(Jan 30): Taiwan’s economy expanded at the fastest pace in 15 years in 2025, buoyed by unquenchable demand for the tech goods needed to develop AI systems. In a signal of confidence in the longevity of the global AI boom, this month Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co said it was earmarking as much as US$56 billion in capital spending for 2026, a stronger-than-anticipated projection. The optimism is also partly due to the US and Taiwan agreeing on a trade deal this month. Taiwan’s exports hit record levels in 2025. Taiwan’s trade surplus with the US also climbed to a record last year.

Source: The Edge Markets January 30, 2026 08:44 UTC