Taiwan's exports continue to fall in March

TAIPEI -- Taiwan's exports slumped for the fifth consecutive month in March as weakness in global demand weighed on its electronics products, according to the latest trade data.

Exports fell 4.4 percent year on year in March to 28.68 billion US dollars, while imports rose 6.6 percent from the previous year to 25.56 billion US dollars.

For the first quarter, exports fell 4.2 percent from a year earlier to 76.36 billion US dollars, snapping a rallying streak of 10 quarters, while imports shed 0.8 percent to 67.41 billion US dollars in the first three months, trimming trade surplus to 8.95 billion US dollars.

Trade authorities warned of further decline in exports due to weak global growth.

In March, declines were reported in most of Taiwan's main export products -- ranging from electronic components, metals and their products, to plastic and rubber products.

The Chinese mainland and Hong Kong remained the biggest destination for Taiwan exports, followed by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the United States, Europe, and Japan.