ICT exports in August were close to $60 billion, once again breaking the record high.
According to the "ICT export and import trends for August 2026" that the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources released on the 14th, ICT exports in August were $59.98 billion, up 162.6% from the same month a year earlier ($22.84 billion).
In the same month, ICT exports accounted for 61.0% of total national exports ($98.25 billion), surpassing 60% for the first time on record.
Buoyed by expanded global investment in artificial intelligence (AI), ICT exports exceeded $50 billion for the third consecutive month.
By item, semiconductors posted a record-high export value of $46.67 billion (up 209.0%) as demand for AI infrastructure continued on the back of expanded capital expenditures by global big tech companies.
Mobile phones recorded $1.64 billion (up 23.2%) on increased exports of finished goods driven by higher sales of high-value premium new products and increased exports of parts.
Computers and peripherals posted exports of $6.4 billion last month (up 383.1%). Exports of solid-state drives (SSD) for corporations increased due to expanded AI data processing, achieving the highest result on record.
Telecommunications equipment exports were $210 million last month (up 11.5%). Exports increased on higher demand for telecommunications device parts to Vietnam, automotive electronics equipment to India, and wireless communications devices to Japan.
Displays saw exports decline as pressure mounted to cut unit prices for organic light-emitting diodes (OLED) installed in finished goods such as mobile phones. Last month's total was $1.69 billion (down 7.0%).
ICT imports in August were $18.61 billion, up 48.8% from the same month a year earlier ($12.51 billion).
The trade balance posted a surplus of $41.37 billion, surpassing $40 billion for the first time.