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South Korea Exports Hit Record $86B as Global Factories Stockpile Amid Iran War
Semiconductor shipments jumped 151.4% as AI demand lifted exports to $86.13 billion, while officials warned of disruptions from the Middle East conflict.
- On Wednesday, South Korea reported a record $86.13 billion in March exports, a 48.3% year-on-year surge marking the fastest growth since August 1988, beating market forecasts.
- Semiconductor exports jumped 151.4% to $32.83 billion as rising memory chip prices and strong global server demand for AI investment drove the surge.
- Growth proved broad-based, with shipments to China rising 64.2% while petroleum product exports climbed 54.9% as the Middle East conflict drove oil prices higher.
- The trade surplus widened to $25 billion, prompting the government to propose a 26.2 trillion won supplementary budget to mitigate Middle East economic shocks.
- South Korean Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan pledged continued support for firms facing supply-chain uncertainty, even as forecasters trimmed the 2026 GDP growth outlook to 2.0%.
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Total News Sources20
Leaning Left1Leaning Right5Center6Last UpdatedBias Distribution50% Center
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources are Center
50% Center
C 50%
R 42%
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