In October 2021, information and communications technology (ICT) exports increased for the 17th consecutive month, driven by strong performances in key items such as semiconductors, which surpassed a cumulative $100 billion, achieving double-digit growth for seven consecutive months.

According to the October 2021 ICT export trends released by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy on the 11th, exports reached $19.92 billion, a 21.5% increase year-on-year, while imports rose 18.5% year-on-year to $12.11 billion. The trade balance recorded a surplus of $7.81 billion.

This is the second-highest October export figure ever, and marks the 17th consecutive month of growth since June 2020.

With the revitalization of the non-face-to-face economy, all four categories—semiconductors, displays, mobile phones, and computers and peripherals—showed growth, driving the upward trend in ICT exports.

Semiconductor sales increased 28.4% year-on-year to $11.23 billion, exceeding $10 billion for six consecutive months since May 2021, and exceeding $100 billion in annual performance as of October.

Memory semiconductors increased 28.1% year-on-year to $6.95 billion. Driven by continued demand from mobile and server businesses, the market has maintained steady growth for 14 consecutive months since September 2020.

System semiconductors recorded $3.73 billion, up 32.3% year-on-year, recording $3 billion in sales for the sixth consecutive month, driven by increased demand from foundries.

Display sales rose 5.8% year-on-year to $2.24 billion, recording 14 consecutive months of growth thanks to robust OLED demand despite domestic companies reducing LCD production.

OLED sales reached $1.39 billion, an 8.7% increase year-on-year. Driven by the expansion of markets for TVs and premium phones, OLED sales continued their upward trend for 14 consecutive months, reaching a cumulative $11.46 billion as of October 2021, surpassing $10 billion for four consecutive years since 2018.

Mobile phone sales rose 17.4% year-on-year to $1.38 billion, driven by increased exports of premium smartphones and continued demand for high value-added components.

Computer and peripheral equipment recorded $1.49 billion, up 48.6% year-on-year, recording an eighth consecutive month of growth driven by increased exports of peripheral equipment, particularly auxiliary memory devices.

By major country, China recorded $9.32 billion, a 25.2% increase year-on-year, with all major items increasing, achieving 14 consecutive months of growth.

Vietnam recorded $3.25 billion, up 10.9% year-on-year, and the United States recorded $2.38 billion, up 29% year-on-year.

The European Union recorded $1.01 billion, a 6% increase year-on-year, and Japan recorded $380 million, a 23.2% increase year-on-year.

By item, ICT imports saw semiconductors increase by 13.8% year-on-year to $5.44 billion, and mobile phones increased by 86.6% year-on-year to $1.49 billion. Computers and peripherals increased 13.8% year-on-year to $1.25 billion, and displays increased 12.3% year-on-year to $350 million.

By major country, China's imports increased 6.2% year-on-year to $4.59 billion, while Taiwan's rose 4% to $1.42 billion. Japan's imports rose 8.2% year-on-year to $1.06 billion, and Vietnam's rose 16.9% to $900 million. The United States' imports rose 0.3% year-on-year to $650 million, with all major countries seeing increases.