South Korea’s trade surplus surged to USD 26.95 billion in May 2026, up from USD 6.93 billion in the same month a year earlier, surpassing market expectations of a USD 24.3 billion surplus and marking a 16th consecutive month in the black and the largest surplus on record, flash data showed. Exports jumped 53.2% yoy to a record peak of USD 87.75 billion, beating market forecasts of 48.4% and accelerating from a 48.0% rise in April, mainly driven by a surge in semiconductor exports. Shipments rose for a 12th straight month, with semiconductor sales soaring 169.4% to a record USD 37.16 billion, lifted by strong AI investment. Shipments to China and the US surged by 80.9% and 59.1%, respectively. Meanwhile, imports increased 20.8%, softer than expectations of 21.5% but accelerating from 16.7% growth in April, and the fastest pace since August 2022, supported by resilient domestic demand. For the first five months of the year, the country posted a USD 101.91 billion surplus. source: Ministry of Trade, Industry & Energy (MOTIE)

South Korea recorded a trade surplus of 26950 USD Million in May of 2026. Balance of Trade in South Korea averaged 1321.20 USD Million from 1966 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 26950.00 USD Million in May of 2026 and a record low of -12674.91 USD Million in January of 2023. This page provides the latest reported value for - South Korea Balance of Trade - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news. South Korea Balance of Trade - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on June of 2026.

South Korea recorded a trade surplus of 26950 USD Million in May of 2026. Balance of Trade in South Korea is expected to be 29900.00 USD Million by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the South Korea Balance of Trade is projected to trend around 45000.00 USD Million in 2027 and 55000.00 USD Million in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-05-01 12:00 AM
Balance of Trade
Apr $23.77B $26.24B $23B $26.0B
2026-06-01 12:00 AM
Balance of Trade
May $26.95B $23.76B $24.3B $25.0B
2026-07-01 12:00 AM
Balance of Trade
Jun $26.95B $ 29.9B


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Balance of Trade 26950.00 23760.00 USD Million May 2026
Exports 87750.00 85890.00 USD Million May 2026
Exports YoY 53.20 48.00 percent May 2026
Imports 60800.00 62110.00 USD Million May 2026
Imports YoY 20.80 16.70 percent May 2026


South Korea Balance of Trade
South Korea is heavily dependent on international trade with the biggest trading partners including China, the US and Japan. The country has been recording consistent trade surpluses since 2008 with the exception of 2022 when the war in Ukraine increased substantially the bill for imports of oil and food.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
26950.00 23760.00 26950.00 -12674.91 1966 - 2026 USD Million Monthly

News Stream
South Korea Posts Record-High Trade Surplus
South Korea’s trade surplus surged to USD 26.95 billion in May 2026, up from USD 6.93 billion in the same month a year earlier, surpassing market expectations of a USD 24.3 billion surplus and marking a 16th consecutive month in the black and the largest surplus on record, flash data showed. Exports jumped 53.2% yoy to a record peak of USD 87.75 billion, beating market forecasts of 48.4% and accelerating from a 48.0% rise in April, mainly driven by a surge in semiconductor exports. Shipments rose for a 12th straight month, with semiconductor sales soaring 169.4% to a record USD 37.16 billion, lifted by strong AI investment. Shipments to China and the US surged by 80.9% and 59.1%, respectively. Meanwhile, imports increased 20.8%, softer than expectations of 21.5% but accelerating from 16.7% growth in April, and the fastest pace since August 2022, supported by resilient domestic demand. For the first five months of the year, the country posted a USD 101.91 billion surplus.
2026-06-01
South Korea Trade Surplus Exceeds Forecasts
South Korea’s trade surplus jumped to USD 23.77 billion in April 2026, up from USD 4.88 billion in the same month a year earlier, beating market expectations of a USD 23 billion surplus and marking a 15th consecutive month in the black, flash data showed. Exports surged 48% year-on-year, surpassing market forecasts of 45.3%, though slightly easing from an upwardly revised 49.2% jump in March, mainly driven by a surge in semiconductor exports. Shipments rose for an 11th straight month, with semiconductor sales soaring 173.5% to USD 31.9 billion, the highest-ever figure for any April, fueled by strong AI investment and rising memory chip prices. Shipments to China (62.5%) and the US (54%) jumped, driven by semiconductors. Meanwhile, imports grew 16.7%, faster than expectations of 14.5% and accelerating from a 13.2% increase in March, marking a sixth consecutive month of expansion and supported by resilient domestic demand.
2026-05-01
South Korea Trade Surplus Reaches New Record
South Korea's trade surplus surged to a fresh record of USD 25.74 billion in March 2026, up from USD 4.99 billion in the same month a year earlier, beating market expectations of a USD 21.2 billion surplus and marking a 14th consecutive month in the black, flash data showed. Exports jumped 48.3% year-on-year to a new peak of USD 86.13 billion for the month, exceeding forecasts of 44.9% and accelerating sharply from February’s downwardly revised 28.7% rise. This marked the strongest growth since August 1988, with exports surpassing USD 80 billion for the first time, mainly boosted by semiconductors. Meanwhile, imports climbed 13.2%, softer than expectations of 18% but accelerating from a 7.5% increase in February, marking a fifth consecutive month of expansion, supported by resilient domestic demand.
2026-04-01