New Taipei City

Taiwan's most populous city (4M+) surrounds Taipei like a ring—the manufacturing base and residential overflow for a capital focused on finance and design. New Taipei absorbed the factories, warehouses, and workforce housing that Taipei proper priced out, creating a complementary relationship where production circles headquarters.

The 2024 industrial surge (11.45% growth in production index) flowed disproportionately to electronics and computing facilities scattered across New Taipei's industrial zones. The AI-driven semiconductor boom lifted property prices (11.65% YoY increase, highest in Taiwan) as engineers and technicians sought housing near production facilities while commuting to Taipei offices.

What distinguishes New Taipei from pure industrial hinterland is scale and integration. The city contains entire supply chains: component manufacturers, assembly facilities, logistics hubs, and the port infrastructure connecting them to global markets. When TSMC or Foxconn needs rapid prototyping or specialized parts, New Taipei suppliers respond within hours.

2026 trajectory: Industrial land becomes scarce as residential development competes with manufacturing expansion. The city must balance housing demand from tech workers against factory space for the supply chain they support. Transportation investment (metro expansion, highway upgrades) determines whether integration with Taipei strengthens or strains.