Presented in descending order, the following list showcases the general product categories under which Taiwan earned the highest trade surpluses in 2014.

1. Electronic equipment: US$66.1 billion (53.6% of all product surpluses)
2. Plastics, plastic articles: $13.8 billion (11.2%)
3. Optical, technical, medical apparatus: $9.2 billion (7.5%)
4. Articles of iron or steel: $6.3 billion (5.1%)
5. Machinery: $3.5 billion (2.9%)
6. Vehicles : $3.3 billion (2.7%)
7. Manmade filaments: $3.1 billion (2.5%)
8. Knit or crochet fabric: $2.6 billion (2.1%)
9. Base metal tools, cutlery: $2.3 billion (1.9%)
10. Toys, games: $1.7 billion (1.4%)

The above top 10 product categories represent 90.8% of Taiwan’s overall product-category surplus subtotal which amounted to $123.3 billion. For that subtotal, 35 of Taiwan’s 97 general product categories delivered a surplus in 2014 while the remaining 62 categories incurred deficits.

Taiwan enriched its trade surplus amounts at the fastest-pace during 2010 to 2014 under the product categories below.

1. Modified starches, enzymes: Up 1,592% since 2010 (US$56 million)
2. Cotton: Up 400% ($72.8 million)
3. Organic chemicals: Up 119.4% ($1.2 billion)
4. Arms and ammunition: Up 63.1% ($26.4 million)
5. Live trees, plants: Up 42.4% ($165.7 million)
6. Electronic equipment: Up 37.2% ($66.1 billion)
7. Base metal tools, cutlery: Up 34.9% ($2.3 billion)
8. Other base metal goods: Up 32.3% ($1.4 billion)
9. Knit or crochet fabric: Up 30.3% ($2.6 billion)
10. Articles of iron or steel: Up 24.7% ($6.3 billion)

From the perspective of the more detailed 4-digit harmonized tariff system (HTS) level, below are 15 products that enabled Taiwan to achieve the highest surpluses in its international trade with other countries.

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1. Integrated circuits/microassemblies: US$37.9 billion
2. Liquid crystal/laser/optical tools: $11.7 billion
3. Solar power diodes/semi-conductors: $6.5 billion
4. Unrecorded sound media: $5.2 billion
5. Processed petroleum oils: $4.8 billion
6. Computer parts, accessories: $4.5 billion
7. Printed circuits: $4.3 billion
8. Iron and steel screws, bolts, nuts, washers: $3.9 billion
9. Styrene polymers: $3.5 billion
10. Phone system devices: $3.4 billion
11. Electric sound/visual signal bells or alarms: $3 billion
12. Polyacetal/ether/carbonates: $3 billion
13. Automobile parts/accessories: $2.2 billion
14. Synthetic yarn woven fabrics: $1.9 billion
15. Bicycles, other non-motorized cycles: $1.7 billion

Among these, integrated circuits and microassemblies had the fastest-growing Taiwanese surplus with a 121.9% gain since 2010. In second place were processed petroleum oils up 94.1% while unrecorded sound media exports moved ahead in value by 52.3%.

Presented in descending order, the following list shows with which trade partners Taiwan earned the highest trade surpluses in 2014.

1. Hong Kong: US$40.8 billion (31.6% of Taiwanese country-specific surpluses)
2. China: $34.1 billion (26.4%)
3. Singapore: $12.2 billion (9.4%)
4. Philippines: $7.5 billion (5.8%)
5. Vietnam: $7.4 billion (5.7%)
6. United States: $7.2 billion (5.6%)
7. United Kingdom: $2.4 billion (1.8%)
8. Thailand: $1.8 billion (1.4%)
9. Netherlands: $1.7 billion (1.3%)
10. Turkey: $1.5 billion (1.2%)

The above 10 trade partners represent 90.3% of Taiwan’s subtotal surplus of $129.1 billion from the 133 geographic entities with which Taiwan demonstrated competitive trade advantages. That subtotal excludes the 88 geographic entities with which Taiwan incurred trade deficits.

Taiwan enriched its trade surplus amounts with the countries below at the fastest-pace during 2010 to 2014.

1. Nauru: Up 5,816% since 2010 (US$9.8 million)
2. Saint Kitts/Nevis: Up 3,405% ($5.2 million)
3. Colombia: Up 2,168% ($437.5 million)
4. Haiti: Up 1,593% ($20.8 million)
5. Niger: Up 951% ($1.1 million)
6. Turkmenistan: Up 811.3% ($2.1 million)
7. Ethiopia: Up 796% ($18 million)
8. Cook Islands: Up 671.4% ($54,000)
9. Montserrat: Up 670% ($77,000)
10. Tanzania: Up 662.3% ($90.3 million)

From the above list, Taiwan showed major product supply advantages over trade partners with comparatively small populations and for generally small surplus amounts.

Below are the products that gave Taiwan the highest surpluses in its international trade with Hong Kong.

1. Integrated circuits/microassemblies: US$22.4 billion (54.9% of Taiwan’s surplus vs. Hong Kong)
2. Unrecorded sound media: $2 billion (5%)
3. Processed petroleum oils: $1.6 billion (4%)
4. Solar power diodes/semi-conductors: $1.6 billion (3.8%)
5. Liquid crystal/laser/optical tools: $1.3 billion (3.3%)
6. Computer parts, accessories: $955.7 million (2.3%)
7. Printed circuits: $800.4 million (2%)
8. Styrene polymers: $731.2 million (1.8%)
9. Phone system devices: $640.1 million (1.6%)
10. Lenses, prisms, mirrors: $601.9 million (1.5%)

Among these, lenses, prisms and mirrors had the fastest-growing Taiwanese surplus with Hong Kong posting a 193.4% gain from 2010 to 2014. In second place were computer parts and accessories up 59.2% followed by integrated circuits and microassemblies ahead by 33%.

Below are the products that gave Taiwan the highest surpluses in its international trade with China.

1. Liquid crystal/laser/optical tools: US$9.8 billion (28.8% of Taiwan’s surplus vs. China)
2. Integrated circuits/microassemblies: $8.7 billion (25.5%)
3. Solar power diodes/semi-conductors: $2.7 billion (7.9%)
4. Cyclic hydrocarbons: $2.6 billion (7.6%)
5. Printed circuits: $1.7 billion (5.1%)
6. Styrene polymers: $1.6 billion (4.6%)
7. Acyclic alcohols: $1.5 billion (4.5%)
8. Electric sound/visual signal bells or alarms: $1.4 billion (4.2%)
9. Polyacetal/ether/carbonates: $1.3 billion (3.7%)
10. Optical fiber cables, sheets, plates: $1.2 billion (3.6%)

Among these, electric sound/visual signal bells or alarms had the fastest-growing Taiwanese surplus with China posting a 289.7% gain from 2010 to 2014. In second place were cyclic hydrocarbons up 66.5% followed by integrated circuits and microassemblies ahead by 22.5%.

Below are the products that gave Taiwan the highest surpluses in its international trade with Singapore.

1. Integrated circuits/microassemblies: US$8.8 billion (72.2% of Taiwan’s surplus vs. Singapore)
2. Processed petroleum oils: $3.1 billion (25.2%)
3. Phone system devices: $235.2 million (1.9%)
4. Computer parts, accessories: $171.4 million (1.4%)
5. Ethers: $155.7 million (1.3%)
6. Solar power diodes/semi-conductors: $149.5 million (1.2%)
7. Unrecorded sound media: $85.6 million (0.7%)
8. Platinum (unwrought): $83.3 million (0.7%)
9. Saturated acyclic mono acids: $61.6 million (0.5%)
10. Printed circuits: $58.4 million (0.5%)

Among these, unrecorded sound media had the fastest-growing Taiwanese surplus with Singapore posting a 620.5% gain from 2010 to 2014. In second place were computer parts and accessories up 106.1% followed by solar power diodes/semi-conductors ahead by 56.3%.