July ICT Exports Reach US$53.36 Billion, a Record High for Any July

Second straight month above US$50 billion; trade surplus tops US$30 billion for third consecutive month

Jang Hyung-im, Reporter Posted 2026/08/14 [11:42] Article No. 55237

In July 2026, South Korea’s information and communications technology (ICT) exports reached US$53.36 billion, the largest figure ever recorded for the month of July. Imports stood at US$18.30 billion, leaving the ICT trade balance at a surplus of US$35.06 billion and extending a run of surpluses above US$30 billion for three straight months.

[코리안투데이] Announcement of ICT export and import trends for July 2026 © 장형임 기자

The Ministry of Science and ICT (led by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Bae Kyung-hoon) and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (Minister Kim Jung-kwan) on August 14 announced the trends in ICT exports and imports for the month of July 2026. Exports totaled US$53.36 billion, up 140.6 percent from US$22.17 billion a year earlier, while imports rose 37.3 percent to US$18.30 billion from US$13.33 billion in the same month last year. As a result, the trade balance posted a surplus of US$35.06 billion.

Buoyed by expanding artificial intelligence (AI) investment worldwide, July ICT exports remained above US$50 billion for a second consecutive month, ranking first among all July figures on record. The top July export figures on record are US$53.36 billion in 2026, US$22.17 billion in 2025 and US$19.48 billion in 2021. The trade surplus likewise held in the US$30 billion range for a third straight month, at US$35.06 billion in July, following US$26.45 billion in April, US$32.23 billion in May and US$39.09 billion in June.

The significance of ICT exports is evident in their share of the national economy. July ICT exports accounted for 54.0 percent of the country’s total exports of US$98.89 billion, more than half, serving as a pillar of the nation’s exports for three consecutive months. With strong performances from ICT items led by semiconductors and storage devices underpinning the overall trade surplus, analysts say the sector is acting as a mainstay of the Korean economy even amid shifting external conditions.

By item, all major categories grew, including semiconductors (up 178.8 percent), displays (up 0.5 percent), mobile phones (up 62.6 percent), computers and peripherals (up 353.9 percent) and communications equipment (up 18.7 percent). Semiconductors reached US$41.02 billion, sustaining growth rates above 100 percent for a seventh straight month on the strength of server memory driven by rising AI inference demand and expanded supply of enterprise SSDs. Memory chips in particular jumped 276.9 percent to US$35.68 billion, reflecting growing demand as data center construction gained full momentum.

Displays came to US$1.77 billion, with the overall figure lifted by rising exports of organic light-emitting diode (OLED) panels for finished products such as smartphones and TVs slated for release in the second half of the year. Mobile phones reached US$1.55 billion, with finished-product exports driven by demand for new models and expanded sales of high-value products. Computers and peripherals stood at US$4.94 billion, rising for a ninth consecutive month on the back of higher component exports and growing demand for AI server SSDs, while communications equipment increased to US$240 million amid brisk exports of wireless communication devices to Vietnam and automotive equipment to India.

By region, exports rose across all major markets, including the United States (up 187.0 percent), China (including Hong Kong, up 194.7 percent), the European Union (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). China (including Hong Kong), the top export destination, reached US$22.01 billion, rising for a 12th straight month, followed by Vietnam at US$7.82 billion, the United States at US$7.78 billion and Taiwan at US$4.68 billion.

July ICT imports came to US$18.30 billion, up 37.3 percent from a year earlier as many major items increased, including semiconductors (up 57.6 percent), mobile phones (up 44.7 percent) and computers and peripherals (up 31.0 percent). By region, imports rose from Vietnam, Taiwan and Japan, while falling from China (including Hong Kong) and the United States. Inquiries regarding these statistics are handled by the Information and Communications Industry Policy Division of the Ministry of Science and ICT.

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