South Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy reported on Wednesday that exports for the first quarter of this year reached a historic high, propelled by strong global growth in artificial intelligence (AI) data centers.

According to the ministry's data, exports from January to March totaled $219.9 billion, a 37.8% increase compared to the same period last year, setting a new record for quarterly exports.

Semiconductor exports were the primary driver, surging 139% year-on-year to $78.5 billion, largely due to a sharp increase in investments related to AI servers.

Within the semiconductor sector, DRAM exports rose 249.1% to $35.79 billion, while NAND flash memory chip exports increased 377.5% to $5.39 billion.

The ministry stated, "Semiconductor prices are expected to remain high, so exports in May are also likely to stay strong. However, the conflict in the Middle East is an increasingly significant variable that could pose obstacles in multiple aspects."

Automobile exports saw a slight decline of 0.3% to $17.2 billion, while truck exports grew 63.9% to $710 million.

Bio-pharmaceutical exports reached $4.2 billion, up 9.6% year-on-year, and textile exports increased 7.1% to $1 billion, mainly driven by rising demand for South Korean fashion brands.

Secondary battery exports rose 9.9% to $1.96 billion, primarily supported by a 16.9% increase in lithium-ion battery shipments.