Taiwan just posted its biggest export month ever, driven by AI hardware demand — good news for Taiwan's economy and the chip and server supply chain.

• August exports came in at a record $82.4 billion, up 41% from a year earlier and the 34th straight month of growth.
• Electronic parts led the way, topping $30 billion in a single month for the first time, with chips the biggest source of the jump.
• Finance officials admitted they underestimated how strong AI demand would be.
• Shipments to China and Hong Kong, Japan, and Southeast Asia all surged, with sales to the US up for the 37th month in a row.
• Imports also jumped sharply as Taiwanese firms bought raw materials and equipment to feed the AI supply chain.

Outlook: September exports are expected to rise another 42-48%, which would set a record for the longest export boom in Taiwan's history and keep the full year on track to clear $900 billion.