South Korea's exports rose 52.3 percent from a year earlier in the first 20 days of July, driven by a near tripling of semiconductor shipments amid the AI boom.
According to Korea Customs Service data, outbound shipments reached $54.9 billion in the July 1-20 period, compared with $36 billion in the same period last year. Imports rose 20 percent to $42.7 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of $12.2 billion.
Semiconductor exports jumped 180 percent to $22.1 billion. Petroleum product exports rose 33.4 percent to $3.41 billion, while automobile exports fell 10.6 percent to $3.24 billion. Steel products and ship exports increased 11.1 percent and 70.8 percent, respectively.
Exports to China nearly doubled to $13.3 billion, and those to the United States rose 39.6 percent to $8.96 billion. Cumulative exports this year through Monday totaled $551.2 billion, up 48.7 percent from a year earlier.
