Taiwan cuts 2019 growth, export forecasts, cites 'growing uncertainties'

[February 13, 2019]   TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan's government trimmed its 2019 economic growth forecast on Wednesday, showing that slowing global expansion and weaker tech demand are denting the island's pivotal exports and outlook.

The growth forecast was cut to 2.27 percent from the 2.41 percent seen in November. The government also cut its forecast for 2019 export growth to just 0.19 percent, from November's 1.96 percent.

The 2019 revision are mainly due to "growing uncertainties over global economic growth," the Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics said, adding that slowing demand for electronics including smartphones has "dealt an impact" to supply chain manufactures.

Aidan Wang, Cathay Financial Holdings economist, said the reduced 2019 forecast was "still too optimistic" and that it will be "tough" for Taiwan to keep growth above 2 percent this year.

The statistics agency marginally raised fourth-quarter annual growth to 1.78 percent from 1.76 percent, putting full-year 2018 GDP at 2.63 percent, from the preliminary 2.60 percent.

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In all of 2018, exports rose 5.9 percent from a year earlier, but they declined in both November and December, contributing to the slowest economic growth for a quarter since the second period of 2016.

Taiwan is one of Asia's major exporters especially of technology goods, and its export trend is a gauge of global demand for technology gadgets.
 

Nan Shan Plaza (L) and Taiwan's landmark building Taipei 101 are pictured through the window of an airplane, in Taipei, Taiwan August 19, 2018. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu/File Photo

The government on Wednesday also reduced its inflation outlook for 2019 to 0.73 percent from 0.96 percent projected in November.

Last month, the Ministry of Economic Affairs said it was "not too optimistic" that first quarter export orders growth would be strong, and it expected January ones to decline between 11.8 percent to 14.1 percent due to slowing demand for tech products.

Analysts expected the growth to slow further in 2019 as its technology exports floundered amid weaker global demand and the U.S.-China trade war.

Cathay Financial' s Wang said Taiwan "might start to see the growth to slowly resume to normal in the second half", adding that a lower base for that period and possible improvements in ties between the United States and China could boost the island's economy.

(Reporting by Yimou Lee and Jeanny Kao; Editing by Richard Borsuk)

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