TAIPEI, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Taiwan"s export orders likely rose in August for the 18th consecutive month, a Reuters poll showed on Wednesday, buoyed by sustained demand for technology products during the COVID-19 pandemic and ahead of the year-end holiday shopping season. The median forecast from a poll of 18 economists expects export orders to jump 20.7% from the year-ago period. Forecasts for growth ranged from 18% to 24.5%. Taiwan"s export orders are a leading indicator of demand for hi-tech gadgets and Asia"s exports, and typically lead actual exports by two to three months. The island nation"s export orders, a bellwether of global technology demand, rose 21.4% in July to $55.3 billion year-on-year. read more Summary For poll data click: reuters://realtime/verb=Open/url=cpurl://apps.cp./Apps/econ-polls?RIC=TWEXOR%3DECI Orders median forecast +20.7% y/y (prior month +21.4%) Data due Friday, Sept 24, 4:00 p.m. (0800 GMT) TAIPEI, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Taiwan"s export orders likely rose in August for the 18th consecutive month, a Reuters poll showed on Wednesday, buoyed by sustained demand for technology products during the COVID-19 pandemic and ahead of the year-end holiday shopping season. The median forecast from a poll of 18 economists expects export orders to jump 20.7% from the year-ago period. Forecasts for growth ranged from 18% to 24.5%. Taiwan"s export orders are a leading indicator of demand for hi-tech gadgets and Asia"s exports, and typically lead actual exports by two to three months. The island nation"s export orders, a bellwether of global technology demand, rose 21.4% in July to $55.3 billion year-on-year. read more Taiwan"s manufacturers, such as the world"s largest contract chipmaker Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd (2330.TW), , are a key part of the global supply chain for technology giants including Apple Inc (AAPL.O). The data for August will be released on Friday.