Information and communications technology (ICT) exports surpassed $20 billion for the first time in 34 months, achieving the highest August export amount ever.

According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, information and communications technology (ICT) exports in August 2021 amounted to $20.27 billion, a 33.2% increase year-on-year.

This marks the first time in 34 months since October 2018 that exports have surpassed $20 billion, and marks the 15th consecutive month of growth since June 2020. This marks the largest August export volume ever recorded and the second-largest monthly export volume ever recorded.

ICT imports increased by 23.7% year-on-year to $11.38 billion, and the trade balance was provisionally recorded at a surplus of $8.89 billion.

Looking at exports by major product, semiconductor exports reached $11.79 billion, up 42.2% year-on-year. Driven by continued demand for mobile devices and computers, both memory ($7.67 billion, up 51.2%) and systems ($3.56 billion, up 31.2%) saw growth, marking the fourth consecutive month of exports exceeding $10 billion.

Display sales increased 22.4% year-on-year to $2.21 billion. Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs, up 47.3% to $1.4 billion) showed a positive trend due to increased demand, showing growth for 12 consecutive months.

Mobile phone sales reached $1.18 billion, up 67.7% year-on-year. Both finished products and component sales increased due to the full-scale launch of premium smartphones in the second half of the year.

Computer and peripheral equipment exports increased 26.7% year-on-year to $1.69 billion. The simultaneous increase in both computer and peripheral equipment sales marked the sixth consecutive month of export growth.

By major country, China's imports increased 36.3% year-on-year to $9.67 billion, while Vietnam's rose 18.2% to $3.26 billion. The United States' imports rose 41.7% year-on-year to $2.46 billion, and the European Union's imports rose 22.1% to $1 billion. Japan's imports also increased 33.8% year-on-year to $360 million.