Jan export orders 1.9 yy vs 3.6 Reuters poll forecast
Orders from China 28 yy vs 3.5 in prior month
Ministry sees February orders between 15.7 and 11 yy
Ministry attributes Jan data to AI demand, Lunar New Year factor

TAIPEI, Feb 27 Reuters Taiwan39;s export orders beat expectations in January amid robust demand for artificial intelligence applications, but the outlook remains soft as high interest rates in major Western markets and geopolitical uncertainty weigh on demand.

Export orders last month edged up 1.9 from a year earlier to 48.42 billion, beating a 3.6 decline forecast in a Reuters poll. Orders dropped 16.0 in December from a year earlier.

Orders for goods from the island, home to tech giants such as chip manufacturer TSMC, are a bellwether of global technology demand.

The 1.9 onyear gain was mainly because of strong demand for new applications of highperformance computing and artificial intelligence, the economy ministry said in a statement.

It was also due to increased stockpiling before the weeklong Lunar New Year break, it added, the most important holiday in the Chinesespeaking world.

However, looking ahead, the ministry said it expects export orders in February to fall between 11 and 15.7 from a year earlier. The first part of the year is traditionally the low season for orders for Taiwan39;s hightech goods.

The ministry cited risks ahead including the impact of high interest rates in the United States and Europe, ChinaU.S. trade disputes and…