Key facts
- South Korea's ICT exports reached an all-time monthly high of $47.79 billion in May.
- This represents a 128.9% increase compared to May of the previous year.
- Semiconductor exports were a major driver, soaring 169.2% to $37.16 billion.
- Shipments of computers and related equipment more than tripled year-on-year.
- Exports to the United States saw a significant increase of over 250%.
South Korea's exports of information and communication technology (ICT) products reached a record high in May, driven by robust demand for semiconductors and other AI-related products. Outbound shipments totaled $47.79 billion, a significant increase of 128.9% from the previous year, marking the third consecutive month that exports have surpassed the $40 billion threshold.
Semiconductor exports alone surged by 169.2% to $37.16 billion, bolstered by ongoing investments in AI servers and rising memory chip prices. Exports of computers and related equipment more than tripled, reflecting increased demand for solid-state drives used in AI data centers. Smartphone exports also saw a healthy rise of 15.9%.
Exports to the United States experienced a dramatic increase of over 250%, reaching $8.1 billion. Shipments to China, including Hong Kong, more than doubled to $19.5 billion, while exports to Vietnam grew by 90.8% to $6.8 billion. The country's ICT sector recorded a trade surplus of $32.09 billion in May, with imports rising 36% year-on-year to $15.7 billion.