The value of export orders received in Taiwan dropped in May from a year earlier amid weak global demand, marking the third consecutive month that export orders posted negative annual growth, according to figures released Wednesday by the island's statistics authorities.

Taiwan's export orders totaled 36.47 billion U.S. dollars in May. The total was down 3.04 percent year on year, but up 1.07 percent from April.

During the first five months of this year, the island received export orders worth 176.4 billion U.S. dollars, down 0.55 percent year on year.

Orders from the United States, Taiwan's second-largest export market, increased 5.86 percent in May from a year earlier to 8.75 billion U.S dollars, making it the only market to post positive annual growth, the figures show.

While announcing the figures at a press conference, Beatrice Tsai, a member of the island's statistics authorities, expressed optimism that the negative annual growth will be narrowed in June, citing expected increases in export orders in the information and communication technology sector.