# Korea Posts Record ICT Exports in May > Source: > Published: 2026-06-14 03:30:33.686695+00:00 # Korea Posts Record ICT Exports in May South Korea's ICT exports hit an all-time monthly record in May 2026, reaching $47.79 billion - a 128.9 percent year-on-year surge from $20.88 billion - according to the Ministry of Science and ICT. The milestone marks the first time monthly ICT exports have exceeded $40 billion for three consecutive months. Semiconductors drove the bulk of the gain, with shipments soaring 169.2 percent on-year to $37.16 billion, fueled by AI server investments and higher memory chip prices. Computers and related equipment more than tripled to $4.33 billion, reflecting rising solid-state drive demand from AI data centers. The ICT trade surplus reached $32.09 billion for the month. ### Record Monthly High South Korea's outbound ICT shipments reached $47.79 billion in May 2026, a 128.9 percent surge from $20.88 billion a year earlier, per data from the Ministry of Science and ICT released June 14. This marks the first time monthly ICT exports have crossed the $40 billion threshold for three consecutive months. Imports rose 36 percent on-year to $15.7 billion, leaving a trade surplus of $32.09 billion for the sector. ### Semiconductors Dominate Semiconductor exports soared 169.2 percent on-year to $37.16 billion - by far the largest category. The Ministry attributed the surge to continued corporate investments in AI server infrastructure and a rise in memory chip prices. Shipments of computers and related equipment - principally solid-state drives used in AI data centers - more than tripled to $4.33 billion. Smartphone exports rose 15.9 percent on-year, while display panel exports edged up 2.8 percent. ### Destination Breakdown US-bound shipments jumped over 250 percent on-year to $8.1 billion, the steepest proportional rise among major partners. Exports to China, including Hong Kong, more than doubled to $19.5 billion, remaining the largest single destination. Shipments to Vietnam climbed 90.8 percent to $6.8 billion, reflecting Vietnam-based manufacturing hubs absorbing Korean components. ### AI Supply Chain Signal The sustained above-$40 billion monthly run rate provides a ground-level measure of AI infrastructure buildout scale. Korean semiconductor exports alone in a single month now exceed the annual revenues of most large AI software companies, underscoring the capital intensity of the current AI hardware cycle and South Korea's critical position within it. ## Scoring Rationale Record monthly ICT exports ($47.79B, +128.9% YoY) with a three-month above-$40B streak provide a significant macro signal on the scale of AI hardware demand and Korea's supply-chain centrality. Primarily a trade-data story rather than a technology or product development, placing it in the solid but not major tier. Practice interview problems based on real data 1,500+ SQL & Python problems across 15 industry datasets — the exact type of data you work with. [Try 250 free problems](/problems)