SEOUL, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's export of information and communications technology (ICT) products hit a record high for January due to soaring semiconductor demand, government data showed Thursday.
The ICT products shipment surged 78.5 percent from a year earlier to 29.05 billion U.S. dollars in January, reaching an all-time high for the month, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources.
Chip exports more than doubled to 20.55 billion dollars, fueled by surging global investment in artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure that led to higher demand and price increases for memory chips.
Display panel shipment gained 19.0 percent to 1.50 billion dollars, and mobile phone export jumped 75.1 percent to 1.76 billion dollars.
Shipment for computers and peripherals spiked 83.7 percent to 1.71 billion dollars, and communications equipment export advanced 26.7 percent to 200 million dollars.
Import of ICT products grew 20.0 percent over the year to 14.09 billion dollars in January, sending the trade surplus in the ICT industry to 14.96 billion dollars.
Import of chips, display panels, mobile devices, computers and communications equipment all registered a double-digit growth last month. ■
