SEOUL, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's exports of information and communications technology (ICT) products jumped by a double digit in October thanks to strong global demand for semiconductors, a government report showed Wednesday.
The ICT exports advanced 20.6 percent from a year earlier to 18.01 billion U.S. dollars in October, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.
The exports in the ICT industry kept a double-digit increase since December last year. It was mainly attributable to solid demand for locally-made semiconductors.
Chip exports surged 72.4 percent to 9.64 billion dollars last month, accounting for more than half of the total ICT exports.
Mobile phone shipments tumbled 27.8 percent to 1.89 billion dollars as local manufacturers increased production in overseas factories.
The ICT exports to China gained 30.8 percent to 10.15 billion dollars, topping 10 billion dollars for the first time. Those to Vietnam soared 58.1 percent to 2.41 billion dollars.
Imports in the sector stood at 9.1 billion dollars, sending the ICT industry's trade surplus to 8.91 billion dollars.
