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
South Korea's exports have reached $709.4 billion so far this year, surpassing last year's annual record, the customs office said on Saturday, as the economy rides high on booming global demand for AI chips.
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 thi...
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 Korean exports reached $709.4 billion in the first eight months of 2026, surpassing the record for the entire year of 2025, thanks to a surge in chip exports driven by global demand for artificial intelligence (AI) chips. The South Korean economy could grow by 2.6% this year due to increased exports. South Korean economy experiences highest growth in over five years. South Korea: Government freezes fuel price ceiling.
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