The Purchasing Manager’s Index (PMI) rose 60% in March over February’s figure. The index is an indicator of the economic health of the manufacturing sector.
Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research (CIER) President, Wu Chung-shu, explained on Tuesday the reason for the sudden jump in orders:
"That’s mostly due to the fact that there are fewer work days in February. Also, there have been more orders for some companies," said Wu.
"Overall, Taiwan’s economy is gradually picking up."
The head of the Supply Management Institute, Steve Lai, added that some companies are stocking up on inventory this month. That behavior is usually due to urgent orders, especially in the electronics and computer industry. He also said this sudden increase of orders looks like a short-term trend.