By Kim Hayeon 

Information and communications technology (ICT) exports last month set a record high for January on a provisional basis

The Ministry of Science and ICT on Feb. 15 said such shipments last month tentatively reached USD 19.65 billion, up 20.7% from the same month last year. 

ICT exports thus saw double-digit growth for ten straight months since April last year.

Imports in the sector reached USD 12.32 billion.

The trade surplus in ICT was thus provisionally estimated at USD 7.33 billion.

By product, semiconductors, displays, and computers and peripherals saw export growth while those of cell phones declined for the first time in six months.

Semiconductor exports hit USD 10.89 billion, up 24.1% year on year and eclipsing USD 10 billion for the ninth consecutive month since May last year.

Shipments of memory semiconductors totaled USD 6.49 billion and those of system semiconductors USD 3.87 billion.

Exports of displays marked USD 2.35 billion, a 13.3% jump, those of computers and peripherals USD 1.53 billion, up 54.3%, and those of cell phones USD 1.04 billion, down 12.9%.

By export market, China topped the list (USD 9.2 billion), followed by Vietnam (USD 3.32 billion), the U.S. (USD 2.06 billion), the European Union (USD 1.05 billion) and Japan (USD 340 million).

China again led the pack as Korea's biggest import source (USD 4.66 billion), trailed by Taiwan (USD 1.48 billion), Vietnam (USD 1.07 billion), Japan (USD 970 million) and the U.S. (USD 610 million).

hayeounk8@korea.kr