For the first quarter of 2026, the overall balance of payments recorded a current account surplus of US$62.53 billion, a net asset increase of US$64.86 billion on the financial account, and a decrease of US$4.66 billion in the Bank's reserve assets.

1. Current Account

The current account surplus registered an increase of US$32.84 billion over the same quarter of the previous year.

1. The goods trade surplus rose by US$30.97 billion year on year to US$58.01 billion. This was mainly due to an expansion in exports underpinned by sustained strong business momentum in emerging technology applications.
2. The services account deficit widened by US$0.35 billion year on year to US$3.42 billion, mainly because of an increase in expenditures on travel.
3. Primary income surplus grew by US$2.36 billion year on year to US$9.22 billion, mainly reflecting an increase in residents' income from outward direct investment.
4. The secondary income deficit widened by US$0.14 billion year on year to US$1.27 billion, mainly owing to an increase in outward workers' remittances.

2. Financial Account

1. The direct investment account posted a net asset increase of US$7.37 billion. Of the components, outward direct investment by residents and inward direct investment by nonresidents recorded net increases of US$10.01 billion and US$2.64 billion, respectively.
2. The portfolio investment account registered a net asset increase of US$41.51 billion. Of the components, residents' portfolio investment abroad exhibited a net increase of US$16.17 billion, mainly because the banking sector stepped up holdings of overseas debt securities and the private sector raised their holdings of overseas equity securities. Nonresidents' portfolio investment recorded a net decrease of US$25.34 billion, mainly because foreign investors reduced their holdings of Taiwanese equities.
3. The financial derivatives account displayed a net asset decrease of US$0.23 billion, mainly owing to a decrease in assets that reflected gains from the disposal of derivative financial instruments by other financial corporations.
4. The account of other investment registered a net asset increase of US$16.22 billion, mainly because of increases in overseas deposits of the private nonfinancial sector and in trade credit extended.

Notes: 1. The next balance of payments data will be released at 16:20 on August 20, 2026.

2. For the release schedule for the coming months, please visit the Advance Release Calendar on the Bank's website.