South Korea's Sept 1-20 Exports Hit Record on AI-Driven Chip Surge of 259%
South Korea’s customs data for September 1-20 shows exports reached a record $71.4 billion, up 78.3% year-on-year, driven by a 259.4% surge in semiconductor shipments to $34.12 billion. Imports rose 26.7% to $48.4 billion, yielding a $22.97 billion trade surplus. Exports to China doubled and to the U.S. surged 118%, reflecting strong global AI-driven demand for chips.
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South Korea's Early-September Exports Surge 89.8% on AI-Driven Chip Demand
South Korea's exports maintained robust growth in the first 20 days of September, driven by semiconductor shipments supported by global artificial intelligence demand, according to customs data released on Monday. After adjusting for working-day differences, exports surged 89.8% year-on-year, accelerating from a 61.5% increase in the same period of August. Unadjusted exports rose 78.3%, while imports grew 26.7%, resulting in a trade surplus of nearly $23 billion. Semiconductor exports were the primary growth driver, soaring 259.4% year-on-year. By destination, exports to China rose 113.8% and to the US increased 118%. The strong trade momentum supports the Bank of Korea's view that the economy is resilient enough to withstand higher borrowing costs. The central bank raised its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to 3% in August, its second consecutive hike, and upgraded its 2026 growth forecast to 3.3% from 2.6%, citing strong exports and AI-related investment. The bank's six-month rate forecast median of 3.25% suggests one more quarter-point hike, though the governor indicated a shift to gradual tightening. Inflation remains a key concern, with August headline consumer inflation at 3.1% and core inflation accelerating to 3.4%.
Read sourceSouth Korea's September 1-20 exports hit record $71.4 billion, chip shipments surge 259.4%
South Korean customs data released on September 21 shows that exports from September 1 to 20 reached an all-time high of $71.4 billion, up 78.3% year-on-year, driven by a 259.4% surge in semiconductor shipments. On a per-working-day average basis, exports grew 89.8%. Imports for the same period increased 26.7% year-on-year, resulting in a preliminary trade surplus of $22.97 billion. This marks the highest export performance for any 20-day period on record, with semiconductor sales as the primary driver.
Read sourceSouth Korea's exports hit record high in first 20 days of September, chip exports surge 260%
South Korean customs data released on Monday, September 21, showed that exports from September 1 to 20 hit a record high, driven by a surge in chip sales. Exports rose 78.3% year-on-year to $71.4 billion, marking the strongest 20-day performance on record. Semiconductor shipments increased by 259.4%. On a working-day average basis, exports grew 89.8%. Imports for the same period increased 26.7% year-on-year, resulting in an initial trade surplus of $22.97 billion. The data was reported by Jin10 on September 21.
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South Korea Exports Hit Record High in Sept 1-20; Semiconductor Exports Surge 259.4%
According to data reported by tradealpha via RTRS, South Korea's exports reached a record high during the first 20 days of September. The surge was driven by a massive 259.4% increase in semiconductor exports. The data highlights the continued strength of South Korea's export-driven economy, particularly in the critical semiconductor sector, which is a key indicator of global technology demand. The record performance for the September 1-20 period underscores robust global trade activity and South Korea's central role in the electronics supply chain.
Read sourceSouth Korea's September 1-20 Trade Surplus Hits $22.97 Billion as Exports Surge 78.3%
According to preliminary data released by Korea Customs, South Korea recorded a trade surplus of $22.97 billion for the period of September 1-20. The data shows a significant surge in exports, which rose by 78.3% year-on-year, while imports increased by 26.7% year-on-year during the same period. This strong export growth indicates robust demand for South Korean goods, potentially driven by global economic recovery and demand for key products such as semiconductors and automobiles. The trade surplus figure reflects the country's continued export-led economic strength, though the data is preliminary and subject to revision. The report was sourced from Jin10, a Chinese financial data provider.
South Korea's Preliminary Trade Surplus for September 1-20 Reaches $22.97 Billion
South Korean customs data released on September 21, 2023, indicates a preliminary trade surplus of $22.97 billion for the period of September 1-20. The data shows a significant surge in exports, which rose 78.3% year-on-year, while imports increased by 26.7% year-on-year. This strong export performance suggests robust global demand for South Korean goods, particularly in sectors such as semiconductors and automobiles. The trade surplus marks a continued positive trend for South Korea's economy, which has been recovering from earlier trade deficits. Analysts attribute the export growth to a rebound in global trade and strong demand from key markets like China and the United States. The data is preliminary and subject to revision, but it provides an early indicator of South Korea's trade performance for the full month of September.
Read sourceSouth Korea's September 1-20 Exports Hit Record on 259.4% Semiconductor Surge
South Korea's customs authorities reported that exports for the first 20 days of September reached a record high of $71.4 billion, a 78.3% year-on-year increase. This surge was primarily driven by a 259.4% jump in semiconductor shipments. On an average per working day basis, exports rose 89.8% year-on-year. The data highlights the continued strong demand for South Korean chips, which are a key component of global electronics supply chains.
Read sourceSouth Korea's Sept 1-20 Exports Hit Record on AI-Driven Chip Surge of 259%
South Korea's customs data for September 1-20 shows exports reached a record $71.4 billion, up from $40 billion in the same period of 2025, driven primarily by semiconductor shipments. Chip exports surged 259% to $34.12 billion, accounting for 47.8% of total exports, a 24.1 percentage point increase year-on-year. The previous 20-day record was $61.7 billion in June. Imports rose 26.7% to $48.4 billion, yielding a $23 billion trade surplus. Exports to China doubled to $16.6 billion, and to the U.S. surged 118% to $14.2 billion. The article attributes the sustained 15-month export growth streak to global artificial intelligence demand. Year-to-date cumulative exports reached $764.9 billion, with a trade surplus of $225.5 billion, 5.4 times the $42.163 billion surplus in the same period last year.
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