SEOUL (XINHUA) – South Korea’s export of information and communications technology (ICT) products fell for the 14th month in August amid continued weakness in global demand for locally-made tech products, government data showed yesterday.
ICT products shipment tumbled 16.7 per cent from a year earlier to USD16.05 billion in August, continuing to slide since July last year, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.
Semiconductor export plunged 21.1 per cent to USD8.64 billion last month on the back of lower chip prices.
Display panel shipment grew 1.8 per cent to USD2.13 billion on demand for OLED panels used for mobile devices, but mobile phone export dropped 12.2 per cent to USD990 million.
Shipment for computers and peripherals dived 47.4 per cent to USD660 million, and communications equipment export decreased 9.5 per cent to USD210 million.
ICT products shipment to the United States and the European Union (EU) retreated in double digits, but those to Vietnam and Japan gained ground last month.
Import for ICT products fell 18.1 per cent over the year to USD11.07 billion in August, sending the trade surplus in the ICT industry to USD4.98 billion.
Import for chips, computers and mobile phones all declined in double figures last month.
