SEOUL, South Korea / RankWire.AI / – South Korea’s exports more than doubled from a year earlier in the first 20 days of October, reaching $61.6 billion on record semiconductor shipments. The Korea Customs Service released the data on Wednesday. Average daily exports, measured by working days, rose to $4.74 billion. That was the highest level recorded for the first 20 days of any month. Imports climbed 42.8% to $47.1 billion, leaving a trade surplus of $14.5 billion.
Semiconductors drove the surge. Chip exports jumped 222.5% to $27.5 billion during the period, implying shipments of roughly $8.5 billion a year earlier. Semiconductors accounted for 44.7% of total exports, the largest share of any product. The surge continued a strong run for Korean chipmakers, including Samsung, which has been expanding its memory products for AI systems.
Other major products also posted solid gains. Outbound shipments of petroleum products rose 68.3% from a year earlier. Automobile exports increased 40.9%, while steel product exports climbed 42.6%. The broad-based growth across key industries added to the momentum from semiconductors. Together, these sectors helped lift the daily export average to a record for the period.
Exports to China and the US more than double
Exports to China soared 154.4% year on year in the first 20 days of the month. Shipments to the United States rose 154.9%, slightly outpacing the increase to China. Exports to Vietnam and the European Union also increased over the same period, according to the customs data. The figures show demand rising across South Korea’s largest export markets at the same time.
Imports grew at a slower pace than exports, rising 42.8% to $47.1 billion. The gap produced a trade surplus of $14.5 billion for the first 20 days of October. Higher exports of high-value products such as chips helped widen the surplus. Exports outpaced imports by roughly 31%, giving South Korea a strong start to the final quarter of the year.
Year-to-date exports reach $876.3 billion
Cumulative exports from the start of the year through October 20 reached $876.3 billion. The country’s total trade surplus for the year so far stood at $266.9 billion. The latest figures build on strong results earlier in the year. In August, South Korea’s exports jumped 68.7% to $98.25 billion, also supported by robust chip sales.
The preliminary 20-day data offer an early indication of South Korea’s full-month trade performance. Full October figures are typically released at the start of the following month. Semiconductors will remain the main factor to watch, given their 44.7% share of total exports. Gains in petroleum products, automobiles and steel also point to broader strength in the export sector.