Semiconductor exports in the first half of the year recorded $10 billion for 14 consecutive months, exceeding $60 billion, achieving the highest first-half export amount ever, thanks to factors such as demand for data center servers and a booming foundry industry.

According to the export and import trends for the first half of 2022, released by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy on the 1st, semiconductor exports reached $69.02 billion, a 20.8% increase year-on-year, achieving the highest first-half sales record. In particular, items such as system semiconductors and OLEDs not only showed strong growth but also expanded their share of top-tier items, spurring the high value-added growth of our industry.

Semiconductor exports in the first half of the year appear to have grown significantly due to a combination of factors, including increased yields resulting from the booming foundry industry, robust server demand stemming from increased data center investment, and continued growth in mobile demand in China and elsewhere.

Furthermore, according to June export and import trends, semiconductors increased 10.7% year-on-year to $12.35 billion, while computer shipments rose 9.6% to $1.562 billion. Wireless communication devices rose 10.6% year-on-year to $1.16 billion, and home appliances rose 15.5% to $638 million. Displays increased 5.9% year-on-year to $1.57 billion.

In June, despite the slowdown in consumer IT demand due to the impact of the Chinese regional blockade, the prolonged Russo-Russian War, and declining purchasing power, the company achieved its 24th consecutive month of export growth and the highest June performance ever, based on robust server demand.

Looking at key export trends in the first half of the year, display production decreased due to declining global LCD demand and prices, but demand for OLED for mobile devices persisted. Display exports increased as the share of high-value-added products, such as foldable and low-power (LTPO) OLED, increased.

The export boom in 'wireless communication devices' was driven by the following factors: △ release of new domestically produced smartphones, △ increased preference for domestic wireless communication components, and △ increased component prices due to supply chain issues.

Despite the slowdown in exports of non-face-to-face products, the 'computer' sector saw continued growth in enterprise SSDs, driven by increased investment in North American data centers and data infrastructure construction projects in China. Exports also increased due to the launch of next-generation SSDs at the beginning of the year.

Although the demand for home appliance replacement slowed due to the global economic downturn and rising interest rates and prices in major countries, exports of home appliances increased due to continued demand for premium home appliances and the performance of domestic brands in major home appliance markets in the US, EU, and other countries.