▲Major export items scale and rate of change

Semiconductor exports show 22-month growth trend…12 consecutive months of strong performance
Sustained momentum based on memory semiconductor market dominance

ICT products including semiconductors and computers achieved record-high figures for April, leading the export growth momentum.

According to the trade trends for April 2022 announced by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy on the 1st, semiconductors increased 15.8% year-over-year to $10.82 billion, and displays increased 21.8% year-over-year to $2.18 billion. Computers increased 56.4% year-over-year to $1.672 billion, and wireless communications equipment increased 8.3% year-over-year to $1.569 billion.

'Semiconductors' have maintained strong performance for 12 consecutive months exceeding $10 billion, recording exports of over $10 billion for the first time in any April on record.

Driven by resumed data center investments, higher price points were formed than initially anticipated, and memory semiconductors sustained favorable conditions based on market dominance.

'Displays' continued to show strong performance as OLED, where our companies maintain competitive advantages, benefited from expanded demand, even as LCD panel unit prices decline due to global oversupply.

'Wireless communications equipment' recorded three consecutive months of export growth as demand for the latest domestic smartphones remained strong and exports of mobile phone components such as camera modules continued.

'Computers' faced uncertainty due to lockdowns in Chinese cities where upstream and downstream manufacturing facilities are located, but consumer and enterprise SSD demand both maintained growth.

'Home appliances' saw demand slowdown due to global market uncertainty, but recorded seven consecutive months of growth due to increased preference for our premium appliances and rising unit prices from expanded premium product share.

Meanwhile, in the automotive sector, despite vehicle semiconductor supply shortages and decreased exports to China, one of the major markets, exports switched to positive territory driven by expanded high-value-added product exports such as electric vehicles.

However, automotive parts exports declined slightly as reduced operating rates at overseas OEM plants continued due to semiconductor supply shortages and other aftereffects.

Semiconductor and ICT product exports are evaluated positively as they showed growth momentum despite heightened global instability from prolonged Ukraine conflict and Chinese city lockdowns from COVID-19 spread, through the combined effect of △increased data center investment demand △mobile strength in China and elsewhere △improved yields from favorable foundry conditions.