South Korea recorded a trade surplus of $22.97 billion during the first 20 days of September, marking a 78.3% increase in exports compared to the same period last year. Year-to-date export figures reached $728.5 billion, reflecting a 54.1% rise from the previous year and exceeding the total export volume for all of 2025.
Data for the first ten days of September showed record exports of $35 billion, an 82.6% year-on-year increase. Semiconductors were the primary driver, contributing $16.5 billion, which accounts for 47.1% of total exports and represents a 270.1% growth compared to the previous year.
The surge is attributed to global demand for AI infrastructure, including data center GPUs and high-bandwidth memory chips. Major South Korean manufacturers, specifically Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, are key suppliers in this sector. Other sectors, including petroleum products, automobiles, ships, and steel, also reported gains.
Cumulative trade surplus figures through September 10 reached approximately $213 billion. South Korea provides preliminary customs data on 10-day and 20-day cycles, which economists use as a leading indicator for global trade patterns. In 2023, the country faced monthly trade deficits due to a global chip surplus.
