Taipei, June 28 (CNA) The total annual revenue generated by Taiwan's top 5,000 enterprises exceeded NT$40 trillion (US$1.34 trillion) in 2021 for the first time, a Taipei-based credit information agency said Tuesday, citing a survey it conducted.

For the 17th consecutive year, iPhone assembler Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. recorded the highest annual revenue among the country's top 5,000 companies, with NT$3.64 trillion, followed by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) with NT$1.57 trillion, according to a press release by China Credit Information Service (CCIS).

The top five enterprises all generated net revenue of over NT$1 trillion, CCIS said, listing Compal Electronics, Pegatron Corporation and Quanta Computer Inc. as the other three.

In terms of net profits, however, TSMC topped the list for the 18th straight year, with NT$596.5 billion, the agency said.

In total, the top 5,000 enterprises in Taiwan saw a combined net profit of NT$5.57 trillion, after tax, in 2021, the highest ever in Taiwan's recorded history, and total revenue of over NT$40 trillion, according to CCIS.

It also said that three of Taiwan's leading cargo shippers Evergreen Marine Corp, Yang Ming Marine Transport Corp and Wan Hai Lines recorded their net margins at 254.58 percent, 67.53 percent and 89.09 percent, respectively, to become the second, third and ninth most profitable in 2021.

Ocean freight rates had skyrocketed in 2021 due to a shortage of shipping containers, which resulted from the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the agency.