Commercial revenue in Taiwan fell slightly in March from a year earlier largely due to falling sales in information technology products to Japan.
According to statistics compiled by the economics ministry, commercial revenue, which comprises revenue from the retail, wholesale, and dining services sectors in Taiwan, fell 0.7% year-on-year in March. After seasonal adjustments, sales of the local commercial sector for March fell 0.8% from a month earlier.
The economics ministry said that shipments of notebook computers and flat panel TVs to the Japanese market were on the decline. As a result, revenue posted by the local wholesale sector unexpectedly fell 1.5% year-on-year in March.
The economics ministry said the Japanese yen’s depreciation has led to a drop in orders placed by buyers in Japan for Taiwan’s IT devices. It also said that some Japanese IT makers dropped out of the market, which impacted Japan’s purchases from Taiwan as well.
Looking ahead, the economics ministry said commercial sales are expected to register another decline in April amid food safety concerns after pesticide-tainted tea drinks hit local chain beverage stores.