Science ministry reports highest-ever July ICT exports of $53.36 billion

The science ministry said that information and communications technology (ICT) exports reached a record $53.36 billion in July, as expanding global investment in artificial intelligence lifted demand.

The July total was up from $22.17 billion a year earlier and accounted for 54.0 percent of the country's $98.89 billion in total exports.

The ICT trade surplus reached $35.06 billion, remaining above $30 billion for a third consecutive month. Imports rose 37.3 percent to $18.30 billion from $13.33 billion a year earlier, with imports of semiconductors, mobile phones, computers and peripherals increasing.

Semiconductor exports rose 178.8 percent from a year earlier to $41.02 billion and extended their expansion to a 17th month. Fixed memory prices continued to climb amid demand for servers, including those used for artificial intelligence.

Sales of OLED displays for finished smartphones and televisions rose. New mobile-phone models and higher-value devices supported handset exports, while computers and peripherals extended gains to nine months on demand for solid-state drives from AI servers. Communications-equipment exports also rose on stronger shipments of wireless equipment to Vietnam and vehicle electronics equipment to India.

China-bound ICT exports rose 194.7 percent to $22.01 billion, led by semiconductor shipments, while mobile-phone and computer-and-peripheral exports also increased. Exports to Vietnam climbed 115.7 percent to $7.82 billion as sales of semiconductors, displays, mobile phones, computers and peripherals increased.