* Exports +4.3% y/y vs +10.15% forecast in Reuters poll

* Exports to China -11.3% y/y (prior month -1.3%)

* Exports to the U.S. hit record high

* Sees exports in May +7% to +10% y/y

TAIPEI, May 8 (Reuters) - Taiwan's exports rose less than expected in April, hurt by weak demand from China although robust demand for artificial intelligence-related products had shipments to the United States surging to a record.

The Finance Ministry said it expects stable growth in exports for the first half of the year, adding demand created by new technologies reliant on AI and high-performance computing would offset the impact of high interest rates and geopolitical tensions on the global economy.

Exports climbed 4.3% from a year earlier to $37.5 billion, gaining for a sixth straight month, data showed on Wednesday.

That was below a forecast of 10.2% in a Reuters poll and an 18.9% gain in March.

The ministry predicted that exports in May could rise between 7% and 10% from a year earlier.

Exports to the United States leapt 81.6% to $10.2 billion, compared with a 65.7% surge in March. Taiwanese firms such as TSMC , the world's largest contract chipmaker, are major suppliers to Apple, Nvidia and U.S. tech giants.

The value figure for exports to the U.S. was not too far off the $11.3 billion worth of exports to China. Shipments to China tumbled 11.3% in April from a year earlier versus the prior month's 1.3% drop.

Taiwan's total shipments of electronic components fell 17.7% in April from a year earlier to $12.95 billion, with semiconductor exports sliding 18.8%.

Taiwan's imports rose 6.6% to $31.0 billion in April. That compared with economists' forecasts for a 7.6% gain. (Reporting by Faith Hung and Emily Chan; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)