Information and communication technology (ICT) exports increased by 27.4% year-on-year, marking the second-highest May export figure in history.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced ICT import and export statistics for May 2021 on the 14th. According to the report, ICT exports in May totaled $17.73 billion, a 27.4% increase year-on-year, while imports reached $10.51 billion, a 17.7% increase year-on-year. The trade balance recorded a surplus of $7.22 billion.

ICT exports have shown an upward trend for 12 consecutive months since June 2020, and represent the second-largest export volume in history for May.

In particular, semiconductors surpassed $10 billion for the first time in 30 months since November 2018, and the three major ICT items—semiconductors, displays, and mobile phones—recorded double-digit growth rates for two consecutive months, continuing the strong export trend.

By major product category, semiconductors amounted to $10.11 billion, a 24% increase compared to the same month of the previous year. Due to continuous demand growth and rising unit prices, memory ($6.57 billion, 13.6% increase) and system ($3.02 billion, 55.7% increase, all-time high export value) semiconductors rose together. Memory semiconductors continued their growth trend due to rising unit prices driven by robust demand from mobile and server sectors, while system semiconductors recorded an all-time high in exports due to sustained overall demand expansion, including semiconductor contract manufacturing.

Displays recorded $1.78 billion, a 38.7% increase compared to the same month last year. Exports of parts related to Organic Light-Emitting Diodes (OLEDs) and Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs) continued to expand due to factors such as increased mobile demand. Exports of OLEDs ($970 million, 64.2% increase), LCDs ($480 million, 7.1% increase), and parts ($330 million, 34.6% increase) all increased.

Mobile phone exports reached $1.04 billion, up 43.0% from the same month last year. Exports increased for seven consecutive months as the simultaneous growth of finished products ($410 million, up 20.8%) and parts ($620 million, up 62.9%) continued.

Computers and peripherals amounted to $1.33 billion, up 9.8% from the same month last year. With simultaneous increases in computers ($200 million, 14.2% increase) and peripherals ($1.14 billion, 9.1% increase), exports increased for three consecutive months.

Looking at performance by major countries, China (including Hong Kong) recorded $86.6 billion, a 19.3% increase compared to the same month last year, while Vietnam recorded $2.38 billion, a 39.3% increase. The United States recorded $2.28 billion, a 30.5% increase compared to the same month last year, and the European Union recorded $1.03 billion, a 34.4% increase compared to the same month last year. Japan recorded $330 million, an increase of 12.9% compared to the same month of the previous year.

Looking at the status of ICT imports, semiconductors amounted to $4.72 billion, an increase of 20.6% compared to the same month of the previous year, and computers and peripherals amounted to $1.38 billion, an increase of 20.1% compared to the same month of the previous year.

Mobile phones amounted to $610 million, down 23.8% from the same month of the previous year, and displays amounted to $290 million, down 7.6% from the same month of the previous year.

Regarding import status by major regions, Taiwan recorded $1.39 billion, a 40.9% increase compared to the same month of the previous year, and Japan recorded $850 million, a 40.7% increase. The United States recorded $760 million, a 24.7% increase compared to the same month of the previous year, and the European Union recorded $550 million, a 22.4% increase compared to the same month of the previous year.

China (including Hong Kong) was $3.7 billion, down 12.1% from the same month of the previous year, and Vietnam was $880 million, down 1.1% from the same month of the previous year.