Manufacturing PMI rises on chip, AI demand: S&PBy Crystal Hsu / Staff reporterTaiwan’s manufacturing sector roared ahead last month, posting its most vigorous improvement in more than four years, as buoyant global demand for semiconductors and artificial intelligence (AI) applications fueled sharp gains in output and new orders, S&P Global said in a report yesterday. The S&P Global Taiwan Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) climbed to 55.2 from 51.7 in January, extending the expansion streak to a third consecutive month. Supplier delivery times lengthened at a faster pace last month, as vendors struggled to keep up with stronger demand and were reported to hold insufficient inventories, S&P Global said. As demand outpaced workforce growth, backlogs accumulated at the quickest rate since August 2021, it added. Manufacturers grew more optimistic about the 12-month outlook, with sentiment reaching its highest level since May 2024, buoyed by expectations that global demand — particularly for semiconductors and AI-related technologies — would remain supportive, S&P Global said.

Source: Taipei Times March 02, 2026 17:11 UTC