SEOUL: South Korea's exports surged 52.3 per cent year-on-year in the first 20 days of July, driven by booming global demand for semiconductors fuelled by the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence technologies, official data showed on Tuesday.
Preliminary figures released by the Korea Customs Service showed exports reached $54.9 billion during the July 1-20 period, compared with $36 billion in the corresponding period last year.
Imports also increased, rising 20 per cent year-on-year to $42.7 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of $12.2 billion, underscoring the resilience of Asia's fourth-largest economy despite continued global economic uncertainty.
Semiconductors remained the dominant driver of export growth, with overseas shipments soaring 180 per cent to $22.1 billion. The strong performance reflects sustained investment in artificial intelligence infrastructure and data centres, which continues to boost demand for advanced memory chips and other semiconductor products manufactured by South Korean companies.
Exports of petroleum products also recorded solid growth, rising 33.4 per cent to $3.41 billion, supported by stronger global energy demand and higher export values.
Ship exports climbed 70.8 per cent to $2.44 billion, reflecting continued strength in South Korea's globally competitive shipbuilding industry, while steel exports rose 11.1 per cent to $2.46 billion.
In contrast, automobile exports fell 10.6 per cent to $3.24 billion, highlighting uneven performance across the country's manufacturing sector.
China remained South Korea's largest export market during the period, with shipments nearly doubling to $13.3 billion, benefiting from recovering industrial demand and stronger semiconductor sales. Exports to the United States also rose sharply, increasing 39.6 per cent to $8.96 billion, reflecting robust demand across technology and manufacturing sectors.
The latest figures reinforce South Korea's position as one of the world's leading semiconductor exporters, with the sector continuing to underpin economic growth and trade performance.
From the beginning of the year through July 20, the country's cumulative exports reached $551.2 billion, representing a 48.7 per cent increase compared with the same period in 2025.
The strong export momentum comes as global demand for high-performance chips continues to accelerate, driven by investment in artificial intelligence, cloud computing and advanced digital technologies. Analysts expect semiconductor exports to remain the main engine of South Korea's external trade in the coming months, although uncertainties surrounding global trade conditions and geopolitical tensions could continue to pose risks to the outlook. — Reuters
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