[DigitalToday reporter Jin-ho Lee (이진호)] Exports by the information and communications industry (ICT) last month rose 128.9 percent from a year earlier to $47.79 billion. Imports increased 36.0 percent to $15.7 billion. As a result, the trade balance posted a surplus of $32.09 billion.

The Ministry of Science and ICT and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy will announce the May 2026 ICT export and import trends on June 15.

May ICT exports stayed above $40 billion for a third straight month for the first time, despite the prolonged Middle East war. It was also the highest export figure on record. The export growth rate of 128.9 percent was the highest ever. The ICT trade surplus rose above $30 billion for the first time. ICT exports accounted for 54.5 percent of the country's total exports of $87.75 billion.

May ICT exports by major items increased across the board, including semiconductors (up 169.2 percent), mobile phones (up 15.9 percent), displays (up 2.8 percent), computers and peripherals (up 259.6 percent) and communications equipment (up 3.7 percent).

Semiconductor exports rose 169.2 percent from a year earlier to $37.16 billion. The ministry cited rising fixed transaction prices for memory chips and higher exports of high value-added products, driven by continued expansion of investment in artificial intelligence (AI) servers. Semiconductor exports stayed above $30 billion for a third straight month, posting the highest results ever for the entire period.

Display exports rose 2.8 percent to $1.57 billion. The rebound was driven by rising demand for OLED panels for new mobile phone models and strong sales of new laptop models. Mobile phone exports rose 15.9 percent to $1.22 billion. It attributed the increase to higher average selling prices of high-spec finished products and strong demand for high value-added parts such as camera modules.

Exports of computers and peripherals surged 259.6 percent to $4.33 billion. They posted record results for a fourth straight month, supported by expanding demand for semiconductor-based storage devices (SSD) for AI servers. Communications equipment exports rose 3.7 percent to $210 million. Demand for communications equipment parts shipped to Vietnam and electrical equipment destined for Mexico drove the increase.

By region, exports increased to all major markets, including the United States (up 254.3 percent), China including Hong Kong (up 157.3 percent), Taiwan (up 95.5 percent), Vietnam (up 90.8 percent), India (up 56.0 percent), the European Union (up 53.9 percent) and Japan (up 33.2 percent).

Meanwhile, ICT imports last month rose 36.0 percent from a year earlier as many major items increased, including semiconductors (up 62.6 percent), mobile phones including parts (up 16.0 percent), computers and peripherals (up 15.5 percent) and communications equipment (up 8.8 percent). Display imports fell 2.7 percent.