Semiconductors Lead as ICT Exports Surpass $40 Billion for Second Consecutive Month

April ICT Exports Reach USD 42.71 Billion

Trade Surplus Tops USD 20 Billion for Third Consecutive Month

Exports in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector posted a record-high growth rate, surpassing the USD 40 billion (approximately KRW 60 trillion) mark for the second consecutive month. The increasing demand for semiconductors, driven by the proliferation of the artificial intelligence (AI) industry, boosted ICT export performance.

The Ministry of Science and ICT and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on May 14 that ICT exports last month reached USD 42.71 billion, up 125.9% from the same month a year earlier (USD 18.91 billion). Imports totaled USD 16.16 billion, an increase of 33.3% compared to the same period last year (USD 12.12 billion). The trade surplus in April 2026 stood at USD 26.55 billion.

Despite the ongoing war in the Middle East for over two months, exports exceeded USD 40 billion for two consecutive months for the first time ever. In March, ICT exports hit a record high of USD 43.46 billion. The export volume in April was the second highest on record, following March. The year-on-year growth rate was also the highest ever. The trade surplus exceeded USD 20 billion for the third straight month, another record. In February and March, the trade surplus amounted to USD 20.53 billion and USD 27.32 billion, respectively.

Semiconductors led ICT sector exports. Semiconductor exports amounted to USD 31.91 billion. For the first time ever, semiconductor exports surpassed USD 30 billion for two consecutive months, driven by a surge in fixed prices due to persistent excess demand for memory chips stemming from increased server investments, particularly for AI applications. Computer and peripheral equipment also posted record results, thanks to increased demand and higher unit prices for SSDs used in AI servers. However, display exports decreased due to the ripple effect of rising semiconductor prices. By major category, export growth rates were as follows: computers and peripherals, 430%; semiconductors, 173.3%; mobile phones, 14%; and telecommunications equipment, 9.9%.

By region, exports to the United States rose 294.2% year-on-year, followed by China (including Hong Kong) at 132.1%, Taiwan at 89.4%, Vietnam at 89.3%, India at 86.5%, the European Union at 58.4%, and Japan at 42.5%. Exports of semiconductors to China amounted to USD 14.34 billion, accounting for about 85.5% of total exports to China (USD 16.77 billion). The United States purchased USD 4.43 billion worth of semiconductors out of its total ICT imports of USD 7.9 billion. In addition, exports of computers and peripherals to the U.S. reached USD 630 million, up 214.2% from the same period last year.

On the import side, semiconductors accounted for the largest portion at USD 9 billion (up 53.2%), followed by computers and peripherals at USD 1.8 billion (up 27%), mobile phones at USD 680 million (up 10.6%), displays at USD 470 million (up 15.1%), and telecommunications equipment at USD 350 million (up 14.6%).

By region, imports amounted to USD 4.29 billion from China (down 10.5%), USD 1.66 billion from Vietnam (up 34.3%), USD 760 million from the United States (up 4%), USD 2.8 billion from Taiwan (up 45.3%), and USD 1.32 billion from Japan (up 5.2%).

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