Why did South Korea's ICT exports rise so sharply in the first half of 2026?

The ministry attributed the surge to the artificial intelligence boom. Semiconductor exports led the increase, helped by strong demand for AI chips and high memory prices.

How much did South Korea export and import in ICT products from January to June 2026?

Outbound ICT shipments reached $253.9 billion in the January-June period. ICT imports came to $93.2 billion, producing a trade surplus of $160.7 billion.

Which ICT products and markets showed the strongest growth for South Korea?

Semiconductor exports increased 162.5 percent to $192.4 billion, and computer and communications equipment shipments rose 233.8 percent to above $20 billion. By destination, exports to China and Hong Kong, Vietnam, and the United States all posted strong gains.

Korea's H1 ICT exports hit fresh high on AI boom: data

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Summary

Korea's information and communication technology exports reached a fresh six-month high in the first half on the artificial intelligence boom, government data showed Tuesday. Outbound ICT shipments totaled $253.9 billion, while imports rose to $93.2 billion, leaving a trade surplus of $160.7 billion. Semiconductor exports jumped 162.5 percent to $192.4 billion on strong demand for AI chips and high memory prices. June ICT exports reached $57.3 billion, and the monthly trade surplus hit a record $39.1 billion.

Key Facts

ICT imports rose 31.3 percent on-year to $93.2 billion in the January-June period.
Exports of computers and communications equipment jumped 233.8 percent on-year to more than $20 billion for the first time in the six-month period.
Combined shipments to China and Hong Kong rose 141 percent on-year, while exports to Vietnam climbed 74.5 percent and shipments to the United States expanded by 215.6 percent.
The Ministry of Science and ICT said the June trade surplus of $39.1 billion was the highest monthly figure on record.

By Yonhap

Published Jul 14, 2026 11:15 am KST

A visitor observes an AI data center display at the SKT booth, part of the World IT Show 2026 held at the COEX convention center in Seoul, April 22. Korea Times photo by Park Ji-yeon

Korea's exports of information and communication technology (ICT) products in the first half hit a fresh six-month high, boosted by the artificial intelligence (AI) boom, government data showed Tuesday.

Outbound shipments of ICT products reached $253.9 billion in the January-June period, up 120.5 percent from a year earlier, the Ministry of Science and ICT said in a press release.

ICT imports rose 31.3 percent on-year to $93.2 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of $160.7 billion, the data showed.

By product, semiconductor exports increased 162.5 percent on-year to $192.4 billion, helped by strong demand for AI chips and high memory prices.

Exports of computers and communications equipment jumped 233.8 percent from a year earlier, topping the $20 billion mark for the first time for the six-month period. This was also due to increased shipments of solid state drives (SSD) used in AI infrastructure, the ministry said.

Mobile phone exports rose 38 percent on-year, and display exports inched up 3.8 percent during the cited period, according to the data.

By destination, combined shipments to China and Hong Kong jumped 141 percent on-year. Exports to Vietnam climbed 74.5 percent, and shipments to the United States expanded by 215.6 percent.

For June alone, Korea exported $57.3 billion of ICT products despite persisting uncertainties related to the conflict in the Middle East.

The country posted a trade surplus of $39.1 billion for the month, the highest monthly figure on record, the ministry said.

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