Equipment is available to purchase in Taiwan and shipping costs are lower, so why isn't building a data center necessarily cost-effective?

Equipment availability only shows advantages in procurement and transportation; it doesn't directly mean long-term operations will be cost-effective. The article cautions that after a data center becomes operational, the main ongoing expenses are electricity and cooling. The author argues that Taiwan's hot, humid climate and competitive power markets may offset the savings from local equipment supply. When evaluating, you should separate construction costs from operational costs, then compare overall conditions across different locations—you can't decide your investment direction based solely on having a complete supply chain.