Helped by a global expansion of AI investment, South Korea's information and communications technology (ICT) exports in September topped $70 billion for the first time. Semiconductor exports accounted for more than 80 percent of the total, driving the highest result on record.

According to the "September 2026 ICT Export and Import Trends" released on Tuesday by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, ICT exports last month came to $75.15 billion, up 195.8 percent from a year earlier. Imports rose 55.3 percent to $21.43 billion. The trade balance posted a surplus of $53.71 billion.

The ICT export total exceeded the previous record of $59.98 billion set in August, entering the $70 billion range for the first time. The trade surplus also topped $50 billion for the first time, setting a new record. ICT accounted for 62.1 percent of South Korea's total industrial exports of $120.94 billion. The share stayed above 60 percent for a second straight month, following 61.0 percent in August.

Semiconductor exports at $60.33 billion hit a record on back of broader AI investment

By item, semiconductor exports rose 262.8 percent from a year earlier to $60.33 billion. That was 80.3 percent of total ICT exports. It set a record for a second straight month, following August.

Growing demand for higher value-added products from increased investment in AI infrastructure, along with rising memory chip prices, drove the export increase. Memory chip exports climbed 358.6 percent to $54.07 billion. System semiconductors also rose 28.9 percent to $5.49 billion.

Rising memory chip prices also continued. The fixed contract price of 16Gb DRAM rose to $48 in September from $40 in June. The price of 128Gb NAND flash also increased over the same period to $30.6 from $28.8.

Exports of computers and peripherals surged 393.0 percent from a year earlier to $7.16 billion. That reflected rising demand for server solid-state drives (SSDs) as investment in AI data centres expanded. SSD exports climbed 532.0 percent to $6.77 billion.

Mobile phone exports rose 28.2 percent to $1.9 billion. Exports of parts such as camera modules and 3D sensing modules increased, and sales of high-priced finished products grew. Exports of finished products rose 40.1 percent to $590 million, while parts increased 23.3 percent to $1.31 billion.

By contrast, display exports fell 11.5 percent to $1.7 billion. Lower demand for organic light-emitting diode (OLED) products due to adjustments in some new smartphone launch schedules, along with pressure to cut unit prices, weighed. Communications equipment exports also slipped 2.3 percent to $220 million as demand fell in countries including Poland and Turkey.

Exports to the United States jump 420 percent, with growth also in China, Taiwan and other major markets

By region, the increase in exports to the United States stood out. ICT exports to the United States jumped 420.1 percent from a year earlier to $15.17 billion. Semiconductor exports rose 700.1 percent to $10.32 billion, while computers and peripherals increased 654.7 percent to $3.59 billion.

Exports to China, including Hong Kong, rose 228.9 percent to $30.4 billion. Semiconductor exports increased 290.7 percent to $26.63 billion, leading the overall rise. Exports to China accounted for 40.4 percent of total ICT exports. Exports to Taiwan climbed 110.9 percent to $9.06 billion and Vietnam rose 66.8 percent to $6.77 billion. Increases were also seen in major markets including the European Union (128.5 percent), Japan (119.6 percent) and India (104.3 percent).

Meanwhile, ICT imports saw semiconductors rise 94.5 percent from a year earlier to $12.62 billion. Mobile phones increased 40.9 percent to $1.67 billion, while computers and peripherals rose 48.4 percent to $2.22 billion.