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 August 14, 2026, that Korea’s ICT exports reached USD 53.36 billion in July 2026, up 140.6 percent year-on-year from $22.17 billion. Imports rose 37.3 percent from $13.33 billion to $18.30 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of $35.06 billion.

Supported by expanding AI investment worldwide, ICT exports remained above $50.0 billion for a second straight month and reached a record high for July. The ICT trade surplus also remained above $30.0 billion for a third consecutive month, sustaining its upward trend. ICT exports accounted for more than half, or 54.0 percent, of Korea’s total exports of $98.89 billion for a third straight month, underscoring the sector’s role as a key pillar of Korea’s exports.

By product, exports increased across all major categories: semiconductors (up 178.8 percent), displays (up 0.5 percent), mobile phones (up 62.6 percent), computers and peripherals (up 353.9 percent), and telecommunications equipment (up 18.7 percent).

Semiconductor exports grew by more than 100 percent for a seventh straight month, supported by continued growth in server memory exports amid rising demand for AI inference and expanded supplies of enterprise SSDs. Higher exports of OLED panels for finished products, such as smartphones and televisions, drove growth in display exports. Mobile phone exports rose as demand for new models and increased sales of high-value products lifted shipments of finished phones. Exports of computers and peripherals increased for a ninth straight month, led by higher parts exports and growing demand for SSDs used in AI servers. Telecommunications equipment exports rose on strong shipments of wireless communications equipment to Vietnam and automotive equipment to India.

By destination, exports increased in all major markets: the U.S. (up 187.0 percent), China, including Hong Kong (up 194.7 percent), the EU (up 202.0 percent), Taiwan (up 26.3 percent), Vietnam (up 115.7 percent), India (up 128.2 percent), and Japan (up 39.3 percent).

ICT imports totaled $18.30 billion in July 2026, up 37.3 percent from $13.33 billion a year earlier, as imports increased in several major categories, including semiconductors (up 57.6 percent), mobile phones (up 44.7 percent), and computers and peripherals (up 31.0 percent).