The rate of decline in semiconductor exports has been gradually improving since hitting a low in the first quarter of this year.

The Ministry of Science and ICT announced on the 16th the information and communications technology (ICT) industry export and import trends for September 2023.

According to this, ICT exports in September 2023 amounted to $18.06 billion, a 13.4% decrease year-on-year, while imports fell 16.8% year-on-year to $10.76 billion. The trade balance recorded a surplus of $7.3 billion.

Semiconductor exports reached $9.99 billion, a 14.4% decrease year-on-year. This marks the highest export volume of the year and shows a gradual improvement since hitting a low in the first quarter.

Memory semiconductors decreased 18% year-on-year to $5.43 billion, and system semiconductors decreased 7.7% year-on-year to $4.16 billion.

Display exports reached $2 billion, up 1.0% year-on-year. Driven by increased exports of OLEDs for mobile devices, overall display exports increased for the second consecutive month. OLED increased 2.8% year-on-year to $1.39 billion, and LCD increased 7.0% year-on-year to $380 million.

Mobile phone sales reached $1.37 billion, a 5.2% decrease year-on-year. This marks the eighth consecutive month of decline since February, driven by the ongoing slump in the global smartphone market.

Computer and peripheral equipment sales fell 48.0% year-on-year to $800 million, marking the 15th consecutive month of decline. This decline was attributed to weakened consumer sentiment due to the global economic slowdown and slowing server investment.

Telecommunications equipment exports reached $220 million, a 17.2% decrease year-on-year. While exports increased in some regions with expanding telecommunications infrastructure, such as Japan, overall exports declined due to the global economic slowdown.

By region, Vietnam's investment increased by 4.0% year-on-year to $990 million, and the United States' investment increased by 2.6% year-on-year to $700 million.

China's exports fell 22.9% year-on-year to $3.9 billion, Taiwan's to $1.63 billion, a 27% decrease, and Japan's to $980 million, a 30.2% decrease.