TAIPEI, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Taiwan's total exports in 2019 fell 1.4 percent year on year to 329.34 billion U.S. dollars, while its imports increased by 0.4 percent to 285.86 billion dollars, according to the island's finance department Tuesday.

Taiwan's exports to the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong fell by 4.1 percent from 2018 to 132.23 billion dollars in 2019, but still accounted for over 40 percent of its total exports, the authority said in a press release.

Meanwhile, the island's imports from the mainland and Hong Kong increased 5.9 percent to 58.44 billion dollars, taking up over 20 percent of the total imports.

The island's exports to ASEAN and Europe dropped 7.2 percent and 4.8 percent, while its exports to the United States and Japan increased by 17.2 percent and 2.1 percent, respectively.

In December, Taiwan's total exports climbed 4 percent year on year while its imports increased 13.9 percent year on year.