South Korea's exports of information and communication technology (ICT) products more than doubled in February compared to the same period last year, driven by a surge in semiconductor exports amid the global artificial intelligence boom, according to data released by the Ministry of Science and ICT on Thursday.

The data showed that ICT exports reached $33.6 billion in February, significantly higher than the $16.5 billion recorded a year earlier. Despite fewer working days, exports showed substantial year-on-year growth, marking the highest February export value on record.

During the same period, ICT imports increased by 19.6% to $13 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of $20.5 billion.

In a statement, the ministry noted that ICT exports accounted for 49.8% of South Korea's total exports of $67.45 billion in February, reaffirming the sector's role as a key pillar of the country's economic growth.

By product category, semiconductor exports surged by 160% to $25.17 billion, propelled by soaring demand from the global AI data center industry.

The ministry highlighted that strong performance in high-end products, such as high-bandwidth memory (HBM), was also a significant contributor to the growth.

Smartphone exports rose by 16.9% to $1.24 billion, supported by new product launches and robust demand for premium handsets.

Exports of computers and related peripherals nearly tripled to $2.72 billion, largely due to increased global investment in AI infrastructure.

In contrast, display exports fell by 7.5% to $1.36 billion, weighed down by weak demand for organic light-emitting diode (OLED) products in the IT sector.

By destination, exports to the United States tripled to $6.28 billion, fueled by strong sales of semiconductors, mobile phones, and computers.

Exports to mainland China and Hong Kong also doubled, reaching $1.24 billion, driven largely by robust growth in semiconductor sales.