À̹ÌÁö È®´ë South Korea¡¯s exports of information and communication technology (ICT) products reached a record high of $220.4 billion last year and its trade surplus also hit the highest level at $113.3 billion, primarily thanks to semiconductors, government data showed Thursday.
According to the preliminary data released by the Ministry of Science and ICT, the nation¡¯s ICT exports in 2018 rose 11.5 percent from the previous year to $220.4 billion, exceeding the $200 billion mark for the first time.
Shipments of chips surged 28.6 percent on year to $128.1 billion, becoming the first product that surpassed the $120 billion level. Exports of computers and peripherals reached $11.27 billion, also up 17.4 percent.
Display shipments, on the other hand, declined 8.4 percent to $27.76 billion, hit by a 21 percent fall in liquid crystal display (LCD) shipments that amounted to $13.66 billion amid oversupply. Exports of organic light-emitting diode (OLED) rose 11.7 percent to $10.3 billion.
Due to the fierce competition from Chinese makers and expanded overseas production of components, mobile phone shipments plunged 23.2 percent to $14.61 billion.
By region, ICT exports to China including Hong Kong rose 14.4 percent on year to $119.4 billion. Shipments to Vietnam grew 8.1 percent to $27.89 billion, the U.S. 13.2 percent to $20.54 billion.
The nation¡¯s chip imports increased 8.5 percent from a year ago to $44.95 billion in 2018. Imports of display and computers and peripherals gained about 10 percent to $6.74 billion and $12.85 billion, respectively, while mobile phone imports slipped 17.5 percent to $10.03 billion.
Trade surplus of ICT products also reached a record high of $113.3 billion in 2018. Trade surplus with China and Hong Kong took up the largest share of 65.6 percent at $74.35 billion, followed by Vietnam $19.36 billion, the U.S. $11.93 billion and the European Union $5.22 billion.
By Won Ho-sup and Choi Mira
[¨Ï Pulse by Maeil Business Newspaper & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved]