Taipei, July 27 -- The United States has, for the first time, overtaken China and Hong Kong in 2024 to become the largest buyer of Taiwan-made machinery, signalling a notable shift in regional trade patterns influenced by geopolitical tensions, industrial strategies, and shifting supply chains, Focus Taiwan reported.

According to Taiwan's Ministry of Finance (MOF), outbound sales of Taiwan's machinery to the US reached USD 5.8 billion in 2024, an increase of 6.1 per cent compared to 2023. This figure represents 24.2 per cent of Taiwan's total machinery exports. In contrast, exports to China and Hong Kong slipped by 1.5 per cent year-on-year to USD 5.7 billion, accounting for 23.7 per cent of the total, Focus Taiwan noted.

Between 2019 a...