South Korea Exports Surge 105 Percent to Record $61.6 Billion
South Korea recorded a record $61.6 billion in exports during the first 20 days of October, driven by a massive surge in semiconductor shipments.
The Korea Customs Service reported that South Korean exports surged 105.4 percent to $61.6 billion during the first 20 days of October 2026, marking a record for that period. This growth was primarily driven by global AI investment, which fueled a 222.5 percent increase in semiconductor exports. Semiconductors reached $27.5 billion, accounting for 44.7 percent of the total export volume.
Other sectors saw significant gains, including petroleum products, which rose 68.3 percent, steel products at 42.6 percent, and automobiles at 40.9 percent. Shipments to the United States and China both soared by approximately 154 percent, while exports to the European Union and Vietnam increased by 78.2 percent and 74.6 percent, respectively.
During the same period, imports rose 42.8 percent to $47.1 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of $14.5 billion. Total exports for the year through October 20 reached $876.3 billion, contributing to a total annual trade surplus of $266.9 billion.
