February ICT exports turn positive after 16 months... Semiconductor and mobile phone exports increase but daily average exports decrease

8.5%↑ Year-on-Year for the Same Month
Reflecting Increase in Operating Days
Daily Average Down 8.4%

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] Last month, exports of key items in the information and communication technology (ICT) sector, such as semiconductors and mobile phones, increased, but the average daily performance actually declined. Thanks to the Lunar New Year holiday falling in January this year instead of February last year, the number of working days increased by 3.5 days, leading to a positive overall export amount for the first time in 16 months.

On the 11th, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced that last month's ICT export value was provisionally estimated at $13.74 billion, an 8.5% increase compared to the same month last year. This marks the first positive turnaround in exports in 16 months. Recent figures showed a downward trend with October last year at -23.3%, November -21.8%, December -9.5%, and January this year -7.2%.

However, the average daily export recorded -8.4%, turning negative from 3.6% the previous month within just one month. Looking at recent average daily export growth rates, it was -20.1% in November last year, -11.4% in December, then turned positive to 3.6% in January this year, before falling back to -8.4% last month.

Among the key items, semiconductor exports, which have the largest share, turned positive for the first time in 15 months. They recorded $7.51 billion, a 9.3% increase compared to the same month last year. NAND flash (34%), system semiconductors (27.5%), and memory semiconductors (2.9%) all expanded simultaneously.

Accordingly, the export growth rates, which were -32.1% in October last year, -30.7% in November, -17.6% in December, and -3.3% in January this year, rebounded to 9.3% this time. Looking at last month's spot prices, the unit price of NAND flash (64Gb) was $2.56, up 0.2% compared to the same period last year.

Mobile phones recorded $900 million, a 4.7% increase compared to the same period last year. Exports showed a favorable trend as demand from overseas production bases expanded and demand for high-spec components increased, with parts exports rising 23% year-on-year to $490 million.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy explained that although finished products decreased, parts exports increased due to rising demand for overseas production and high-spec parts (such as camera modules).

Displays were $1.32 billion, down 14.9% compared to the same period last year. Organic light-emitting diode (OLED) panels slightly increased due to expanded smartphone demand, but liquid crystal display (LCD) panels decreased due to production adjustments.

Computers and peripherals increased 87.8% during the same period to $1.13 billion. Exports of peripherals, centered on SSDs (171.7%), showed a strong trend with a 126.6% increase.

ICT exports from small and medium-sized enterprises increased 11.3% year-on-year to $1.37 billion. Computers and peripherals (17.3%) and mobile phones (12.1%) increased, while semiconductors decreased by 5.9%.

By region, China (including Hong Kong), the largest ICT export country, recorded $6.19 billion, up 4.9% year-on-year. Vietnam increased 12.9% to $2.33 billion, the United States rose 19.5% to $1.71 billion, and the European Union (EU) grew 14.6% to $870 million.

Last month, the ICT trade balance continued its surplus trend at $6.04 billion. By country, China (including Hong Kong) had the largest trade surplus of $4.05 billion. Vietnam ($1.58 billion), the United States ($1.06 billion), and the EU ($370 million) followed.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.