South Korea’s exports climbed to a record $120.9 billion in September, exceeding $120 billion in a single month for the first time as semiconductor shipments surged.
The total was 83.5% higher than in September 2025, with chips accounting for roughly half of the month’s exports. The increase underlines how strongly global demand for semiconductors, including those used in artificial intelligence and computing infrastructure, is supporting South Korea’s trade performance.
According to figures from South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources, semiconductor exports exceeded $60 billion for the first time during the month.
Chip Shipments Drive Record Export Growth
Semiconductor exports rose about 263% year on year to $60.3 billion, helped by stronger shipments and higher product prices amid robust demand for memory chips.
Computer exports also rose sharply. Reuters reported that the broader increase extended South Korea’s run of export growth to a 16th consecutive month.
The gains were not shared across every major industry.
Automobile exports fell 5.5% to $6.05 billion, with fewer working days during the Chuseok holiday and weaker used car exports among the factors cited in Yonhap’s report on the government figures.
Other sectors also recorded gains. Petroleum product exports rose to $7.22 billion, while cosmetics exports increased to $1.51 billion, according to the same government data reported by Yonhap.
Exports to China and US Rise Sharply
Shipments to China jumped about 123% to $26 billion, driven largely by semiconductors and wireless communications equipment.
Exports to the United States surged 137% to $24.33 billion, supported by demand for chips, petrochemical products and general machinery.
Exports to Southeast Asian markets also rose 92.6% to $21.29 billion, while shipments to the European Union increased 20.9% to $8.65 billion.
Trade Surplus Hits Record as Imports Rise More Slowly
South Korea’s imports increased 26% to $71.09 billion in September.
Because exports rose much faster than imports, the country recorded a provisional trade surplus of $49.85 billion, the largest on record.
Exports during the first nine months of 2026 reached $814.5 billion, already surpassing the $709.3 billion recorded for the whole of 2025.
That has raised the prospect of South Korea exceeding $1 trillion in annual exports for the first time.
Finance Minister Lee Hyoung-il said on Thursday that annual exports were likely to pass the $1 trillion mark this year, despite difficult external conditions.
Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan also said the country was on track for the milestone but warned that rising global protectionism and heightened tensions in the Middle East remained important risks to the outlook.
What Happens Next
Attention will now turn to whether the semiconductor boom can maintain enough momentum to keep exports on course for the $1 trillion annual threshold.
For now, that figure remains a projection rather than an achieved total.
September’s data nevertheless shows the scale of the current export surge and how heavily South Korea’s record performance is being driven by semiconductor demand.
