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.

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.

South Korea's trade surplus surged to a record USD 15.51 billion in February 2026 from USD 4.15 billion in the same month a year earlier, beating market expectations of a USD 10 billion surplus and marking a 13th consecutive month in the black, flash data showed. Exports rose 29% yoy to a new peak of USD 67.45 billion for the month, exceeding forecasts of 24% but easing from January’s 33.8% surge due to fewer working days amid the Lunar New Year holiday. The latest reading also signaled a ninth straight month of export growth, underpinned by strong global demand, particularly for semiconductors. Meanwhile, imports increased at a softer 7.5%, missing expectations of 13% and slowing from an 11.6% gain in January, though still posting a fourth consecutive month of expansion, supported by resilient domestic demand ahead of the holiday. However, analysts warn March’s trade outlook could be clouded by heightened geopolitical risk after coordinated U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran.