TAIPEI – Taiwan's exports swelled 21.9% year-over-year to $24.2 billion in October on strong demand for electronics.

JASPER, IN – EMS firm Kimball International said its first-quarter 2011 profit dropped 74% year-over-year to $460,000.

Total sales increased 7% year-over-year to $294 million.

The firm’s electronics manufacturing business, however, recorded losses of $250,000, down 13% year-over-year, attributable to labor and employee cost increases. Sales for the segment totaled $177.9 million.

The company had total assets of $642 million at the end of the quarter.

WASHINGTON, DC – The Semiconductor Industry Association projects record global semiconductor sales of $300.5 billion in 2010, up 32.8%.

SHANGHAI – China next year will increase export tonnages for silver, tungsten and antimony, but cut the quota for tin from 21,000 tonnes in 2010 to 18,900 tonnes in 2011.