Korea's ICT exports top $70bn in September on AI demand

South Korea's information and communications technology exports surpassed $70 billion for the first time in September, the science ministry said, as global spending on artificial intelligence infrastructure drove semiconductor sales to a record.

The trade surplus in ICT goods exceeded $50 billion for the first time, reaching $53.71 billion. Semiconductors alone accounted for $60.33 billion, or 80.3 percent of ICT exports, up 262.8 percent from a year earlier, on rising sales of high-value products and sustained gains in memory chip fixed contract prices. ICT exports made up 62.1 percent of the country's total exports of $120.94 billion, keeping the share above 60 percent for a second month.

By product, mobile phones posted higher overall exports as increased shipments of parts coincided with stronger sales of high-end finished devices, while computers and peripherals rose on continued AI data center investment, led by solid-state drives and mid-to-large-sized computers. Displays fell as reduced OLED demand followed adjustments to some smartphone launch schedules, and telecommunications equipment slipped slightly on lower exports of navigation equipment to Poland and Turkey and wireless communication devices to Japan.

Exports to all major markets increased, with shipments to the United States up 420.1 percent. China rose 228.9 percent to $30.4 billion, led by semiconductors at $26.63 billion, and the European Union gained 128.5 percent. Japan climbed 119.6 percent and Taiwan 110.9 percent, while India and Vietnam rose 104.3 percent and 66.8 percent, respectively.

ICT imports came to $21.43 billion in September, up 55.3 percent from $13.8 billion a year earlier, as inbound shipments of most key items increased, including semiconductors, mobile phones and computers and peripherals.