Exports from July 1 to 20 totaled $54.9 billion, the highest for the same period on record. Semiconductor exports, which rose more than 180%, drove the overall performance.
According to the "Export and import trends for July 1–20 (preliminary)" that the Korea Customs Service released on the 21st, exports from the 1st to the 20th were tallied at $54.9 billion, up 52.3% from a year earlier. The previous record high for the period was $36.9 billion in July 2024.
In particular, the rise in semiconductor exports stood out. Semiconductor exports climbed 180% to $22.1 billion, also the highest on record for the same period. Semiconductors accounted for 40.3% of total exports, up 18.4 percentage points from a year earlier. Other increases included petroleum products (33.4%) and computer peripherals (231.9%).
By country, exports increased to China (94.1%), the United States (39.6%), Vietnam (82.4%), the European Union (30.3%), and Taiwan (41.8%). The top three—China, the United States, and Vietnam—accounted for 51.9% of exports.
Meanwhile, imports from July 1 to 20 rose 20% to $42.7 billion. Imports increased sharply in semiconductors, semiconductor manufacturing equipment, crude oil, and machinery, and energy imports including crude oil, gas, and coal also rose 27.4%. The trade balance, or exports minus imports, posted a surplus of $12.2 billion.