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Data from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy showed South Korea’s export sector maintaining strong momentum into the third quarter with semiconductor sales as the primary catalyst for the gains. According to ministry figures, June exports accelerated to a 70.9 percent year-on-year increase, reaching a record 102.25 billion dollars and surpassing the 100 billion dollar mark for the first time. This performance marked the strongest growth since June 1976, with the uptrend now stretching to 13 consecutive months.
A breakdown provided by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy showed semiconductor exports soaring 199.5 percent to a record 44.82 billion dollars in June, driven by memory chip demand linked to artificial intelligence applications. Computer exports more than tripled while wireless communication devices rose 51.9 percent and petroleum products gained 49.8 percent. Auto exports recovered with an increase of 5.8 percent following a dip in May.
The ministry’s regional data placed exports to China 92.1 percent higher in June, fueled by semiconductors along with petrochemical products, machinery and mobile devices. Shipments to the United States climbed 78.6 percent as investment in AI servers expanded. These increases contributed to a first-half export total of 496.7 billion dollars, a gain of 48.4 percent from the previous year.
The trade ministry linked the sustained export strength to the global artificial intelligence investment boom that has lifted demand for South Korean high-tech products. Preliminary readings for early July suggest this trend is set to continue through the summer months. Industry data indicates that the first half performance already positions the economy for another robust annual outcome.
Ministry statistics for 2025 placed full-year exports at a record 709.7 billion dollars, representing a 3.8 percent rise from the prior year and pushing the annual total above the 700 billion dollar threshold for the first time. Daily average exports that year climbed 4.6 percent to 2.64 billion dollars. The trade surplus for 2025 stood at 78 billion dollars, extending a streak of positive balances.
The International Monetary Fund upgraded its growth forecast for South Korea in 2026 to 2.6 percent, citing the semiconductor and AI hardware export surge as a key factor. The organisation highlighted first-quarter growth of 7.5 percent, far exceeding initial projections of 1.8 percent. It also recognised the country as one of the leading net exporters of artificial intelligence hardware worldwide.
