“The latest PMI data indicate a solid and broad-based recovery for the manufacturing industry,” buoyed by demand for all Taiwanese products, not just components for Apple Inc devices, CIER president Wu Chung-shu (吳中書) said. The manufacturing sector plays a crucial role in the nation’s export-reliant economy, accounting for 76.7 percent of GDP in the third quarter, Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics data showed. All manufacturing sectors reported a conspicuous pickup in business, showing that the growth is not limited to the high-sales season for technology products, Wu said. The non-manufacturing sector forecast was a different story as the six-month outlook fell from 39.4 to 34.5, the report said. “The data stems from the negative expectations of firms in the real estate and tourism sectors,” Wu said.

Source: Taipei Times December 01, 2016 16:04 UTC