South Korea exports surpass full-year record, hit $709.4 billion YTD
Semiconductor exports rose 169.6% in January-August as AI chip demand boosted shipments to China and the United States, customs data showed.
- On Saturday, South Korea's cumulative exports reached $709.4 billion, surpassing the previous annual record of $709.3 billion set in 2025, according to a report shared by President Lee Jae Myung on social media.
- Booming global demand for AI chips drives this record performance, with leading memory chipmakers Samsung and SK Hynix benefiting from surging prices amid the AI investment boom.
- From January to August, semiconductor exports increased 169.6% to $281 billion, representing 41% of total exports. Shipments to China jumped 76% and to the United States increased 57%, while passenger car exports fell 4%.
- South Korea is on track to reach $1 trillion in annual exports by early December, positioning it as the fourth country to hit this milestone after the United States, China, and Germany.
- The Bank of Korea raised its 2026 growth forecast for South Korea to 3.3 percent, citing strong chip exports driven by steady demand for AI-related infrastructure.
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South Korea's annual exports are now within sight of reaching $1 trillion for the first time in history. As domestic exports surpassed $700 billion by early September, the figure has already exceeded last year's all-time high of $709.3 billion. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy reported that as of 1:00 PM on the 5th, cumulative exports for the year stood at $709.4 billion.
South Korea exports surpass full-year record, hit $709.4 billion YTD
The Korea Times
korean-vibe.comLee touts record-high exports after surpassing 2025 annual record
President Lee Jae Myung on Saturday shared on social media a report from the customs chief showing that South Korea's cumulative exports so far this year had already surpassed last year's annual record. Lee said in a post on X, formerly Twitter, titled "A report from Korea Customs Service Commissioner Lee Jong-wook," that cumulative exports had reached $709.4 billion as of 1 p.m. Saturday, exceeding the previous annual record of $709.3 billion s…
Cumulative exports for this year have surpassed $700 billion, already exceeding last year's record-breaking annual export performance. With semiconductor exports surging and growth spreading evenly across major items and markets, there is speculation that this year's annual export value could exceed $1 trillion for the first time in history. The Korea Customs Service announced that as of 1:00 PM on the 5th, cumulative exports for the year totale…
(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Hwang Yun-gi = On the 5th, President Lee Jae-myung received a report from the Korea Customs Service stating that this year's cumulative exports surpassed last year's annual performance and recorded an all-time high...
South Korea’s Export Boom Gathers Pace, Powered by Strong Chip Demand
Seoul, Sep 5: South Korea’s exports have reached a record pace in 2026, crossing the country’s previous full-year export record even before the year is over. The sharp increase is being driven largely by strong [...] The post South Korea’s Export Boom Gathers Pace, Powered by Strong Chip Demand appeared first on Business News This Week.
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