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 May 15, 2026, that Korea’s ICT exports in April reached USD 42.7 billion, up 125.9 percent year-on-year from $18.9 billion. Imports rose 33.3 percent from $12.1 billion to $16.2 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of $26.6 billion.

In April 2026, ICT exports topped $40.0 billion for a second straight month for the first time and posted the highest year-on-year growth rate on record, despite the conflict in the Middle East. The ICT trade surplus also topped $20.0 billion for a third consecutive month for the first time. ICT products accounted for nearly half, or 49.7 percent, of Korea’s total exports, which stood at $85.9 billion, reinforcing ICT’s role as a key driver of Korea’s exports.

By product, exports increased for semiconductors (up 173.3 percent), mobile phones (up 14.0 percent), computers and peripherals (up 430.0 percent), and communication equipment (up 9.9 percent), but decreased for displays (down 5.3 percent).

Semiconductor exports stayed above $30.0 billion for a second straight month for the first time, supported by rising memory contract prices as demand continued to exceed supply amid continued investment in AI servers and other server infrastructure. Mobile phone exports increased on higher shipments of finished products and solid sales of high-value parts, including camera modules. Computers and peripherals posted an all-time high, supported by higher demand and prices for solid-state drives (SSDs) used in AI servers. Communication equipment exports returned to growth for the first time in three months on solid demand for components shipped to Vietnam and wired communications equipment shipped to Japan. By contrast, display exports declined as higher semiconductor prices weighed on downstream demand.

By destination, exports increased in all major markets: the United States (up 294.2 percent), China, including Hong Kong (up 132.1 percent), the European Union (up 58.4 percent), Taiwan (up 89.4 percent), Vietnam (up 89.3 percent), India (up 86.5 percent), and Japan (up 42.5 percent).

ICT imports totaled $16.2 billion in April 2026, up 33.3 percent from $12.1 billion a year earlier, as imports increased across most major ICT categories: semiconductors (up 53.2 percent), displays (up 15.1 percent), mobile phones including parts (up 10.6 percent), and computers and peripherals (up 27.0 percent).