TAIWAN'S exports surged 34 percent to US$23 billion in June amid the global economic recovery, the island's authorities said yesterday.

Imports for the month rose 40 percent from a year earlier to US$21.3 billion. The export increase reflected growing demand for Taiwan's computers and other high-tech goods.

For the first six months of this year, exports totaled US$132 billion, a 49 percent increase from a year earlier, and imports rose 65 percent to US$120 billion.

Exports to the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong rose 62 percent to a record high of US$56.7 billion during the period.