Brief
South Korea’s September exports hit $120.9bn, driven by AI chip demand
Exports jumped 83.5% in September, with chip shipments up over 260%, according to customs data.
By Felo News Desk · Published
South Korea’s exports surged 83.5% year‑on‑year to $120.9 billion in September, setting a new monthly record, Al Jazeera reported.
Preliminary figures from the Korea Customs Service show chip shipments accounted for nearly half of the total, rising more than 260% to $60.3 billion. The overall export total for January‑September reached $814.5 billion, surpassing the full‑year figure of 2025.
Minister for Trade and Industry Kim Jeong‑kwan said the achievement reflects strong industry performance and the efforts of entrepreneurs, while noting that protectionist trends and Middle‑East tensions could affect future growth.
South Korea’s semiconductor sector, led by SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics, dominates global markets for high‑bandwidth and dynamic random‑access memory, according to Counterpoint Research.
Key facts
- September exports rose 83.5% YoY to $120.9bn, a record monthly total. (aljazeera.com)
- Chip shipments grew over 260% to $60.3bn, making up nearly half of exports. (aljazeera.com)
- January‑September exports totalled $814.5bn, exceeding 2025’s full‑year level. (aljazeera.com)
- Kim Jeong‑kwan, South Korea’s trade minister, highlighted the achievement and warned of protectionist risks. (aljazeera.com)
Sources
- [1] aljazeera.com — originally reported as “South Korea’s exports hit record high on AI boom”
