SEOUL, March 12 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's export of information and communications technology (ICT) products hit a record high for February due to soaring semiconductor demand, government data showed Thursday.
The ICT products shipment surged 103.3 percent from a year earlier to 33.62 billion U.S. dollars in February, reaching an all-time high for the month, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources.
Chip exports more than doubled to 25.17 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 declined 7.5 percent to 1.36 billion dollars, but mobile phone export jumped 16.9 percent to 1.24 billion dollars.
Shipment for computers and peripherals spiked 187.8 percent to 2.72 billion dollars, but communications equipment export reduced 9 percent to 170 million dollars.
Import of ICT products mounted 19.6 percent over the year to 13.05 billion dollars in February, sending the trade surplus in the ICT industry to 20.57 billion dollars.
Import of chips, display panels, mobile devices and computers registered a double-digit growth last month. ■
