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South Korea's information and communications technology (ICT) exports have rewritten history, driven by a surge in demand for memory semiconductors and solid-state drives (SSDs) triggered by expanding global investments in artificial intelligence (AI) servers. First-half ICT exports reached an all-time high, with their share of total national exports surpassing 50% for the first time, establishing the sector as the central pillar of South Korea's outbound shipments.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Ministry of Science and ICT announced on July 14 that ICT exports in the first half of this year reached 253.86 billion dollars, representing a 120.5% increase compared to the same period last year. Imports rose by 31.3% to 93.21 billion dollars, resulting in a trade surplus of 160.65 billion dollars. This marks the highest first-half performance on record.

Notably, the first-half ICT trade surplus surpassed the previous full-year record set in 2018 (113.22 billion dollars) in just six months. The sector's share of overall national exports also reached 51.1%, exceeding the halfway mark for the first time in history, far higher than the previous record of 39.7% set in 2004.

This stellar performance was effectively driven by semiconductors and SSDs, which together accounted for 83.7% of total ICT exports. Rising demand for high-value memory chips and higher memory prices—propelled by the construction of AI data centers and expanded server investments—boosted semiconductor exports, while SSD shipments grew rapidly amid the expansion of AI infrastructure.

Semiconductor exports increased by 162.5% year-on-year. Memory semiconductor exports surged by 245.1% to 163.73 billion dollars, setting an all-time high for any first half. System semiconductor exports also grew by 11.1% to 25.32 billion dollars, supported by widespread growth across foundries, back-end processing, and fabless sectors.

Exports of computers and peripheral devices rose by 233.8% to 22.16 billion dollars. Within this category, SSD exports surged by 317.5% to 19.94 billion dollars, coming close to breaking the 20-billion-dollar mark in a first half for the first time. This was driven by explosive demand for storage devices used in AI servers, particularly from the United States, China, and the European Union (EU).

Mobile phone exports also increased by 38.0%, buoyed by strong sales of premium smartphones and high-specification camera modules. Finished product exports grew by 107.1% to 3.52 billion dollars, while component exports rose by 11.3% to 4.88 billion dollars.

Display exports edged up by 3.8% to 9.03 billion dollars, led by increased sales of high-value, OLED-centric products and a recovery in demand for laptop LCDs. Communications equipment exports also grew by 7.3%, boosted by increased shipments of wired and wireless communication components to Vietnam and wireless communication components to Japan.

Major export markets all showed robust growth. Shipments to China and Hong Kong rose by 141.0% to 101.16 billion dollars, while exports to the United States surged by 215.6% to 45.44 billion dollars. Exports to Vietnam and Taiwan reached 33.24 billion dollars (up 74.5%) and 29.68 billion dollars (up 92.5%), respectively.

The U.S. market particularly highlighted the impact of expanded AI infrastructure investments. Semiconductor exports to the U.S. surged by 397.9% to 26.39 billion dollars, and exports of computers and peripheral devices also jumped by 341.9% to 11.92 billion dollars.

Performance in June also set new milestones. Monthly ICT exports surged by 160.4% year-on-year to 57.29 billion dollars, surpassing the 50-billion-dollar threshold for the first time in history. Imports rose by 46.4% to 18.2 billion dollars, resulting in a trade surplus of 39.09 billion dollars. Following May, June set new record highs for both monthly exports and trade surplus for the second consecutive month, proving once again that the AI-led semiconductor boom is driving South Korea's export engine.

                                                                                                               Han Dae-ui