臺灣近代經濟史過去多聚焦在商品貿易、個別產業、貿易網絡以及國家政策對貿易表現的影響，至於臺灣經濟史中的白銀問題則尚未被充分重視，特別是評估白銀在貿易表現的角色。本文旨在透過檢視清帝國時代臺灣海關文獻，重新評估當時開放對外國通商的「條約港」範圍之貿易表現。本文分析臺灣從1865年開始對外國開港貿易至1895年日清戰爭結束為止的貿易數據。從這些統計資料可知，當一併考慮白銀的價值與流動時，島上的貿易結構不可單以島內南、北作對比，應勾劃臺灣島內、外多重的貿易與資本移動背後所隱藏的南北不同經濟結構。

The economic history of modern Taiwan has been focused on the commodity trade, specific industries, trade networks, and the state policy on trade performance. Less emphasis has been put on the issue of silver in Taiwan’s economic history, particularly on its role in assessing the island’s trade performance. This paper examines Taiwan’s Maritime Customs documents during the Qing period in order to provide an overall assessment of the trade performance of the island. To conduct such a research, this paper studies the trade statistics of the island from its opening to external trade in 1865 until the conclusion of the First Sino-Japanese War in 1895. The documents under review show that, when the value and flow of silver are considered, the island’s trade pattern cannot be understood by simply making contrasts between the north and the south. Rather, by reconsidering the value and flow of silver, we may outline the economic structures hidden behind Taiwan’s multi-layered trade and capital movements within and without the island.