Also called Chinese Taipei and officially the Republic of China, Taiwan imported US$287.2 billion worth of products from around the globe during 2020, a flatlining 0.4% increase from $285.9 billion in 2019.

This article presents a quick reference snapshot of Taiwan’s main imported products in 2020, categorized by dollar amount and major trading partners.

Data is organized by overall metrics then drill down to the most valuable Taiwanese imports during 2020 for each of Taiwan’s top 10 supplier countries. Those leading trading partners accounted for almost three-quarters (74.2%) of total Taiwanese import purchases.

The island of Taiwan benefits from sharing East Asian maritime borders with mainland China to its northwest, Japan to its northwest and the Philippines to its south.

Product categories shown summarize calculations at the two-digit Harmonized System code level. Two-digit codes enable higher-level insights and trends for Taiwanese imports and each of the top supplier countries.

Taiwan’s Main Imports from China

In 2020, China’s exports to Taiwan amounted to $63.8 billion or 22.2% of overall Taiwanese imports.

That dollar amount represents a 11.1% gain compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 88.9% of Taiwan’s imports from the mainland China.

Electronic equipment: $32.2 billion
Machinery: $10.6 billion
Medical, technical equipment: $2.5 billion
Plastics: $1.7 billion
Organic chemicals: $1.4 billion
Vehicles: $1.1 billion
Copper: $983.3 million
Other chemical goods: $961.1 million
Iron and steel: $900.5 million
Toys, games: $699.8 million
Furniture, lighting, signs: $698.3 million
Iron or steel products: $606.9 million
Inorganic chemicals: $591 million
Glass: $518.1 million
Knit or crochet clothing: $479.9 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Taiwanese imports from China under the medical or technical equipment product category via a 47% gain in revenue, glass (up 35.2%), toys and games (up 29.4%), machinery (up 15.1%), electronic equipment (up 14.4%) and furniture, lighting or signs (up 12.4%).

Posting the severest declines among Taiwan’s top 15 imported products were iron and steel as materials (down -11.7%) and copper (down -2.1%).

Taiwan’s Main Imports from Japan

In 2020, Japan’s exports to Taiwan amounted to $46.1 billion or 16.1% of overall Taiwanese imports.

That dollar amount represents a 4.6% gain compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 88.8% of Taiwan’s imports from Japan.

Electronic equipment: $12.2 billion
Machinery: $8.7 billion
Vehicles: $3.2 billion
Medical, technical equipment: $3 billion
Plastics: $2.9 billion
Other chemical goods: $2.4 billion
Iron and steel: $1.9 billion
Copper: $1.4 billion
Organic chemicals: $1.2 billion
Photo/cinematographic goods: $1.1 billion
Gems, precious metals: $732.1 million
Tanning, dyeing extracts: $621.9 million
Inorganic chemicals: $619 million
Glass: $572.2 million
Iron or steel products: $436.7 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Taiwanese imports from Japan under the copper product category via a 24.2% gain in revenue, gems and precious metals (up 20.4%), electronic equipment (up 17.3%), tanning or dyeing extracts (up 13.3%), photo or cinematographic goods (up 10.4%) then medical or technical equipment (up 10.3%).

Posting the severest declines among Taiwan’s top 15 imported products were organic chemicals (down -34.2%) and machinery (down -6.7%).

Taiwan’s Main Imports from the US

In 2020, the United States’ exports to Taiwan amounted to $33 billion or 11.5% of overall Taiwanese imports.

That dollar amount represents a -6% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 83.1% of Taiwan’s imports from America.

Machinery: $6.7 billion
Electronic equipment: $5.4 billion
Mineral fuels including oil: $3.6 billion
Medical, technical equipment: $3 billion
Aircraft, spacecraft: $1.2 billion
Organic chemicals: $990.1 million
Plastics: $969.2 million
Other chemical goods: $887.9 million
Vehicles: $884.7 million
Pharmaceuticals: $865.4 million
Meat: $834.2 million
Oil seed: $628 million
Cereals: $579.4 million
Iron and steel: $520.4 million
Gems, precious metals: $461.4 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Taiwanese imports from the United States under the gems and precious metals product category via a 63.5% gain in revenue, vehicles (up 26.9%), medical or technical equipment (up 12.4%) and electronic equipment (up 7.1%).

Posting the severest declines among Taiwan’s top 15 imported products were aircraft and spacecraft (down -37.6%), mineral fuels including oil (down -31.9%), iron and steel as materials (down -23.8%), oil seed (down -17.2%) then cereals (down -13.4%).

Taiwan’s Main Imports from South Korea

In 2020, South Korea’s exports to Taiwan amounted to $20.7 billion or 7.2% of overall Taiwanese imports.

That dollar amount represents a 16.4% gain compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 93.3% of Taiwan’s imports from South Korea.

Electronic equipment: $12.3 billion
Machinery: $1.5 billion
Organic chemicals: $1.2 billion
Mineral fuels including oil: $912.7 million
Iron and steel: $633.7 million
Plastics: $536.2 million
Medical, technical equipment: $359.6 million
Iron or steel products: $321.2 million
Other chemical goods: $275.7 million
Copper: $260.5 million
Glass: $238.8 million
Inorganic chemicals: $219.8 million
Gems, precious metals: $183.8 million
Vehicles: $176.4 million
Perfumes, cosmetics: $142.8 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Taiwanese imports from South Korea under the items made from iron or steel product category via a 141.5% gain in revenue, electronic equipment (up 40.1%), machinery (up 31.2%), iron and steel as materials (up 15.6%) and plastics as a material (up 15%).

Posting the severest declines among Taiwan’s top 15 imported products were mineral fuels including oil (down -47.3%), organic chemicals (down -26%), glass (down -20.8%) then copper (down -14.4%).

Taiwan’s Main Imports from Germany

In 2020, Germany’s exports to Taiwan amounted to $10.2 billion or 3.6% of overall Taiwanese imports.

That dollar amount represents an 8.6% gain compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 91.4% of Taiwan’s imports from Germany.

Machinery: $2 billion
Electronic equipment: $1.9 billion
Vehicles: $1.8 billion
Medical, technical equipment: $941.9 million
Pharmaceuticals: $907.9 million
Other chemical goods: $519.8 million
Organic chemicals: $365.7 million
Iron or steel products: $269.2 million
Plastics: $184.7 million
Aircraft, spacecraft: $97.5 million
Inorganic chemicals: $92.8 million
Gems, precious metals: $80 million
Soaps, lubricants, candles: $72.1 million
Iron and steel: $56.7 million
Tanning, dyeing extracts: $55.5 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Taiwanese imports from Germany under the items made from iron or steel product category via a 93.1% gain in revenue, gems and precious metals (up 65.1%), miscellaneous chemical goods (up 21.1%), electronic equipment (up 14.8%), pharmaceuticals (up 13.2%) and machinery (up 10.2%).

Posting the severest declines among Taiwan’s top 15 imported products were aircraft and spacecraft (down -45.4%), iron and steel as materials (down -17.9%), organic chemicals (down -14.8%) then inorganic chemicals (down -11.8%).

Taiwan’s Main Imports from Malaysia

In 2020, Malaysia’s exports to Taiwan amounted to $9.9 billion or 3.5% of overall Taiwanese imports.

That dollar amount represents a -4.4% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 94.4% of Taiwan’s imports from Malaysia.

Electronic equipment: $6 billion
Medical, technical equipment: $1 billion
Mineral fuels including oil: $682.6 million
Machinery: $529.6 million
Animal/vegetable fats and oils: $180.7 million
Iron and steel: $137.4 million
Other chemical goods: $125.5 million
Copper: $123.8 million
Wood: $115.2 million
Plastics: $108.2 million
Aluminum: $96.7 million
Organic chemicals: $90.1 million
Vehicles: $61.8 million
Rubber: $60.3 million
Other food preparations: $52.9 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Taiwanese imports from Malaysia under the machinery product category via a 20.7% gain in revenue, rubber (up 20.3%), animal or vegetable fats and oils (up 18.5%), electronic equipment (up 14.3%) then vehicles (up 13.9%).

Posting the severest declines among Taiwan’s top 15 imported products were mineral fuels including oil (down -63.9%), iron and steel as materials (down -43.9%), organic chemicals (down -31.8%), miscellaneous chemical goods (down -28.3%) and wood (down -22.1%).

Taiwan’s Main Imports from Singapore

In 2020, Singapore’s exports to Taiwan amounted to $9 billion or 3.1% of overall Taiwanese imports.

That dollar amount represents a 14.0% gain compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 96.8% of Taiwan’s imports from Singapore.

Electronic equipment: $4.4 billion
Machinery: $2.5 billion
Medical, technical equipment: $560.1 million
Gems, precious metals: $291.4 million
Other chemical goods: $204.6 million
Plastics: $160.6 million
Organic chemicals: $156.6 million
Mineral fuels including oil: $150.2 million
Modified starches, enzymes: $68 million
Pharmaceuticals: $59.8 million
Glass: $56.2 million
Rubber: $42 million
Photo/cinematographic goods: $41.2 million
Ships, boats: $40 million
Other food preparations: $35.1 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Taiwanese imports from Singapore under the glass product category via a 2,676% gain in revenue, ships and boats (up 409.5%), photo or cinematographic goods (up 71%), modified starches or enzymes (up 36%), electronic equipment (up 23.9%) then gems and precious metals (up 18.8%).

Posting the severest declines among Taiwan’s top 15 imported products were organic chemicals (down -35.2%), mineral fuels including oil (down -29.9%) and plastics (down -9.2%).

Taiwan’s Main Imports from Australia

In 2020, Australia’s exports to Taiwan amounted to $8.1 billion or 2.8% of overall Taiwanese imports.

That dollar amount represents a -19.9% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 95% of Taiwan’s imports from Australia.

Mineral fuels including oil: $4.4 billion
Ores, slag, ash: $1.9 billion
Aluminum: $293.2 million
Meat: $236.3 million
Copper: $221.2 million
Zinc: $124 million
Salt, sulphur, stone, cement: $95.8 million
Nickel: $86.7 million
Dairy, eggs, honey: $68.3 million
Iron and steel: $60.9 million
Wood: $50.9 million
Animal/vegetable fats and oils: $37.8 million
Food waste, animal fodder: $36.4 million
Inorganic chemicals: $35.6 million
Fish: $33.9 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Taiwanese imports from Australia under the fish product category via a 252.8% gain in revenue and aluminum (up 31.3%).

Posting the severest declines among Taiwan’s top 15 imported products were nickel (down -60.5%), iron and steel as materials (down -32.3%), copper (down -31%), zinc (down -30.8%), mineral fuels including oil (down -28.5%) and wood (down -19.2%).

Taiwan’s Main Imports from Netherlands

In 2020, the Netherlands’ exports to Taiwan amounted to $6.6 billion or 2.3% of overall Taiwanese imports.

That dollar amount represents a -16.8% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 96.6% of Taiwan’s imports from the Netherlands.

Machinery: $5.2 billion
Electronic equipment: $488.9 million
Medical, technical equipment: $150.5 million
Organic chemicals: $95.4 million
Beverages: $89.6 million
Vehicles: $76.1 million
Iron or steel products: $50.9 million
Plastics: $40.7 million
Pharmaceuticals: $35.6 million
Iron and steel: $33 million
Other food preparations: $29.3 million
Mineral fuels including oil: $28.6 million
Meat: $19.9 million
Cereal, milk preparations: $18.1 million
Other chemical goods: $16.7 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Taiwanese imports from the Netherlands under the items made from iron or steel product category via a 114.8% gain in revenue and electronic equipment (up 92.1%).

Posting the severest declines among Taiwan’s top 15 imported products were iron and steel as materials (down -51.4%), mineral fuels including oil (down -44.5%), cereal or milk preparations (down -29.8%), meat (down -23.8%), machinery (down -22.6%) and plastics as a material (down -15.7%).

Taiwan’s Main Imports from Vietnam

In 2020, Vietnam’s exports to Taiwan amounted to $5.5 billion or 1.9% of overall Taiwanese imports.

That dollar amount represents a 4.6% gain compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 81.3% of Taiwan’s imports from Vietnam.

Electronic equipment: $2.7 billion
Machinery: $353.7 million
Footwear: $285 million
Clothing (not knit or crochet): $170.4 million
Iron and steel: $153.6 million
Organic chemicals: $128.8 million
Knit or crochet clothing: $124.2 million
Salt, sulphur, stone, cement: $121.1 million
Vehicles: $84.5 million
Fish: $73.5 million
Medical, technical equipment: $64.7 million
Plastics: $62.4 million
Wood: $57.1 million
Rubber: $56.7 million
Paper: $56 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Taiwanese imports from Vietnam under the organic chemicals product category via a 120.1% gain in revenue, machinery (up 39.2%) and medical or technical equipment (up 13.5%).

Posting the severest declines among Taiwan’s top 15 imported products were salt, sulphur, stone and cement (down -16.8%), vehicles (down -14.9%) then knitted and crocheted clothing (down -12.8%).

References

International Trade Centre, Trade Map.

Wikipedia, Taiwan, Chinese Taipei.

World’s Top Exports, Import News.

Taiwan’s Main Imports by Top Supplier Countries