Exports last month set a new monthly record high. Strong shipments of semiconductors and automobiles continued.
According to the "Monthly trade statistics for November 2025 (final)" that the tariff office released on the 15th, exports last month were $61.033 billion, up 8.4% from a year earlier. It was the sixth straight month of gains since June.
By item, semiconductors and automobiles lifted overall exports. Semiconductor exports last month were $17.44 billion, up 38.7% from a year earlier, marking an all-time high. Automobile exports also rose to $6.05 billion, up 10.9%, turning back to growth.
In addition, exports of wired communication devices (18.4%) increased, while petroleum products (-10.2%), ships (-20.2%), wireless communication devices (-6.1%), and auto parts (-12.8%) declined.
By country, exports to China rose 6.9% to $12.07 billion, returning to growth, and Vietnam ($5.4 billion, 5.1%) and Taiwan ($4.125 billion, 26.8%) also performed well. In contrast, exports to the United States fell 0.2% to $10.35 billion, declining for a fourth straight month, and exports to the European Union (EU) and Japan fell 1.9% and 7.7%, respectively.
Meanwhile, imports in November were $51.3 billion, up 1.1% from a year earlier. As a result, the trade balance posted a surplus of $9.7 billion, logging a surplus for 10 consecutive months.