Ministry of Trade Industry and Resources

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) and the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Bae Kyung-hoon) announced on January 15, 2026, that Korea’s ICT exports in 2025 totaled USD 264.3 billion, up 12.4 percent from a year earlier. Imports rose 5.8 percent year-on-year to $151.3 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of $113.0 billion.

Annual ICT exports reached an all-time high, as the global expansion of AI data centers boosted demand for semiconductors and solid-state drives (SSDs), despite continued uncertainties in the global trade environment.

By product, exports of semiconductors rose 22.1 percent year-on-year, while computers and peripherals increased 3.8 percent and communication equipment climbed 3.9 percent. By contrast, display exports declined 9.5 percent, and mobile phone exports edged down 0.5 percent.

Semiconductor exports reached a record high, supported by expanding demand for high-value memory products and sustained price increases for general-purpose semiconductors, including DRAM. Exports of computers and peripherals increased on strong demand for SSDs shipped to China (including Hong Kong), the Netherlands, and Taiwan. Communication equipment exports rebounded for the first time in three years, driven by double-digit growth in shipments to the United States and solid demand from India and Mexico. Display exports declined as falling unit prices and weaker downstream demand for LCD products outweighed increased adoption of OLED displays in IT devices. Meanwhile, mobile phone exports edged down as subdued demand for components offset a recovery in global smartphone demand.

By destination, exports increased to Taiwan (up 64.8 percent), Vietnam (up 14.5 percent), India (up 11.3 percent), the European Union (up 10.2 percent), the United States (up 9.8 percent), and Japan (up 5.5 percent), while exports to China, including Hong Kong, declined 0.9 percent.

In December 2025, Korea’s ICT exports and imports amounted to $30.0 billion and $14.9 billion, respectively, and the trade balance posted a surplus of $15.1 billion. ICT exports extended their upward trend for 11 consecutive months since February 2025, recording an all-time monthly high. For the first time on a monthly basis, ICT exports surpassed the $30 billion mark. Semiconductor exports, as well as exports of computers and peripherals, also reached record highs, underscoring strong export momentum toward year-end.