South Korea exports nearly double in October, strongest growth since 1974
Semiconductor shipments jumped 259% as AI infrastructure demand lifted exports to a record $115.3 billion, the trade ministry said.
- South Korea's exports nearly doubled in October, reaching a record $115.3 billion and marking the sharpest jump in more than 50 years, trade data showed on Sunday.
- Favourable calendar effects from Chuseok holidays provided more working days, while strong global demand for artificial intelligence infrastructure drove the surge, the Ministry reported.
- Semiconductor sales skyrocketed 259.4 percent to $56.4 billion, while Computer sales surged 496.6 percent on increasing server demand for artificial intelligence services.
- Imports rose 36.0 percent to $72.78 billion, resulting in a Trade surplus of $42.5 billion despite being narrower than the previous month's record.
- Shipments to the United States surged 185.8 percent to $24.9 billion, while Exports to China soared 133.6 percent, with Cosmetics exports rising 57.5 percent to $1.44 billion.
41 Articles
41 Articles
South Korea Exports Extend Robust Growth as Chip Boom Continues
South Korea's exports nearly doubled in October, driven by demand for chips related to artificial intelligence. Semiconductor exports jumped nearly 260 percent, accounting for nearly half of total exports, and the trade surplus was $42.5 billion. Despite the positive data, the Kospi index fell 3.5 percent on Friday as investors again doubted the return on AI investments.
As it is predicted that the Korean economy will achieve high growth this year thanks to semiconductor exports, etc., the gap between key macroeconomic indicators and the economy experienced by the public is growing. The economic growth rate will reach 3.6%, and the gross national income (GNI) per capita is expected to enter the $40,000 range for the first time
South Korea ' s exports registered a record rise of 93.7% on an annual basis during October 2026.
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