Also playing a role were large orders for equipment in the transportation sector, the Ministry of Economic Affairs said.

Export orders in July amounted to US$29.72 billion (€22.01 billion), up from US$28.70 billion in June, when orders rose 15.19 percent from a year earlier.

The increase in July's export orders was higher than the average 16.20 percent rise forecast by 11 economists polled by Dow Jones Newswires.

Taiwan's industrial output in July rose 13 percent from a year ago, higher than the forecast of a 7.48 percent increase.

The ministry said industrial output rose a revised 7.24 percent in June.