S Korean ICT exports rise

SEOUL, Feb 10 (Xinhua): South Korea's exports in the information and communications (ICT) sector rose on the back of demand for locally-made smartphones and semiconductors last month despite less working days caused by the Lunar New Year's holiday, a government report showed Monday.
Exports in the ICT industry gained 0.2 per cent from a year earlier to US$13.13 billion in January, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.
Trade surplus in the sector was $6.32 billion last month, much higher than a $735 million surplus for overall industries.
Exports for all industries edged down 0.2 per cent last month as the Lunar New Year's holiday moved to January this year from February last year, reducing working days by 2 days.
Outbound shipments in the ICT industry managed to rise last month as exports of chips and smartphones posted a double-digit growth. Exports of chips and mobile phones jumped more than 14 per cent in January from a year earlier.
Exports of smartphones topped the US$1 billion mark in January, surging 20.7 per cent from a year earlier. It was attributable to brisk sales of flagship products such as Samsung Electronics' Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3 as well as LG Electronics' G2.
Memory chip exports soared 78.5 per cent on year in January, keeping a double-digit growth trend for 11 straight months. Demand for chips used in mobile devices increased amid brisk sales of smartphones.
Exports of display panels declined 15.2 per cent in January from a year earlier due to weak demand for TV panels, but shipments of the country's premium LCD TVs surged 32 per cent owing to strong demand from Latin America, the Middle East and Europe.