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 February 13, 2026, that Korea’s ICT exports in January totaled USD 29.1 billion, up 78.5 percent year-on-year. Imports rose 20.0 percent year-on-year to $14.1 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of $15.0 billion.

In January 2026, ICT exports posted the highest January total and year-on-year growth on record. The increase reflected expanding global demand for AI infrastructure and the ongoing shift toward higher-specification ICT devices. ICT products accounted for 44.1 percent of Korea’s total exports, which stood at $65.9 billion.

By product, exports recorded double-digit growth across all major ICT categories: semiconductors (up 102.7 percent), displays (up 19.0 percent), mobile phones (up 75.1 percent), computers and peripherals (up 83.7 percent), and communication equipment (up 26.7 percent). Average daily exports, adjusted for the number of working days, reached $1.2 billion, up 51.9 percent from $0.8 billion a year earlier.

Semiconductor exports posted triple-digit growth, supported by continued increases in contract prices for memory chips, including DRAM and NAND, and expanding demand for high-value products such as HBM and DDR5. Display exports rebounded as OLED shipments for new mobile devices gained momentum. Mobile phone exports were led by solid demand for premium finished products. Computers and peripherals posted double-digit growth for two consecutive months on strong demand for data center SSDs. Communication equipment exports increased for the seventh straight month, driven by higher automotive equipment exports to the United States and components to Vietnam, Japan, and other Asian markets.

By destination, exports increased in all major markets: the United States (up 110.7 percent), China, including Hong Kong (up 94.5 percent), Taiwan (up 91.6 percent), Vietnam (up 63.6 percent), the European Union (up 30.8 percent), Japan (up 21.0 percent), and India (up 4.5 percent). In particular, exports to the United States posted triple-digit growth, led by semiconductors (up 188.7 percent).

ICT imports totaled $14.1 billion in January 2026, up 20.0 percent from $11.8 billion a year earlier, as imports increased across all major ICT categories: semiconductors (up 22.2 percent), displays (up 30.4 percent), mobile phones including parts (up 31.4 percent), computers and peripherals (up 11.8 percent), and communication equipment (up 24.4 percent).