October ICT Exports Reach $16.4 Billion... 5 Consecutive Months of Growth

Semiconductors and Displays Up, Mobile Phones Down... Trade Surplus $6.18 Billion

On the 27th, visitors are touring the SK Hynix booth at the '22nd Semiconductor Exhibition (SEDEX, SEmiconDuctor EXhibition)' held at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Photo by Honam Moon munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] Last month, exports in the information and communication technology (ICT) sector reached $16.4 billion, marking a 6% increase compared to the same month last year and showing a growth trend for five consecutive months. The average daily export value was $780 million, up 16% from October last year. The trade balance recorded a surplus of $6.18 billion.

Source: Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced the 'October ICT Export and Import Statistics' on the 16th.

By product category, exports of semiconductors ($8.75 billion, 10.1%), displays ($2.11 billion, 10.6%), and computers and peripherals ($1 billion, 5.9%) increased. However, exports of mobile phones ($1.18 billion, -11.3%) decreased.

Source: Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy

Semiconductors, accounting for 53% of total exports, saw increases in both memory ($5.43 billion, 9%↑) and system semiconductors ($2.82 billion, 15%↑).

Exports of key items such as DRAM (14.2%) and foundry (semiconductor contract manufacturing, 90.7%↑) maintained a strong performance.

By region, export performance was as follows: China $7.44 billion (0.7%↑), Vietnam $2.93 billion (28.2%↑), United States $1.85 billion (8.8%↑), European Union (EU) $1.05 billion (6.5%↑), and Japan $310 million (9.9%↓).

Source: Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy

Imports amounted to $10.22 billion, a 9.2% increase compared to the same month last year.

Imports of semiconductors ($4.78 billion, 26.9%↑) and computers and peripherals ($1.1 billion, 16.1%↑) increased. Imports of mobile phones ($800 million, 40.2%↓) and displays ($310 million, 3.2%↓) decreased.

By region, imports increased from Taiwan ($1.27 billion, 34%↑), Japan ($970 million, 9%↑), and the EU ($580 million, 3.1%↑), while imports from China ($3.29 billion, 20.2%↓), Vietnam ($760 million, 18%↓), and the United States ($630 million, 12.1%↓) decreased.

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