South Korea Posts Record Current Account Surplus

2026-04-08 00:22 By Judith Sib-at 1 min. read

South Korea’s current account surplus widened to $23.19 billion in February 2026 from $13.26 billion in January.

This marked the largest monthly surplus on record, surpassing the previous high of $18.7 billion set in December 2025, driven by strong semiconductor exports, which boosted the goods balance before the Middle East war began to disrupt global energy markets and shipping.

The goods account surplus rose to a record $23.36 billion from $15.17 billion in the previous month, as exports surged 29.9% year-on-year to $70.37 billion, far outpacing a 4.0% rise in imports to $47.0 billion.

The services account deficit narrowed to $1.86 billion from $3.80 billion, supported by smaller shortfalls in travel and the use of intellectual property.

Meanwhile, the primary income surplus edged down to $2.48 billion from $2.72 billion, reflecting a drop in income on equity.

The secondary income deficit also fell slightly to $0.79 billion from $0.83 billion.



News Stream
South Korea Posts Record Current Account Surplus
South Korea’s current account surplus widened to $23.19 billion in February 2026 from $13.26 billion in January. This marked the largest monthly surplus on record, surpassing the previous high of $18.7 billion set in December 2025, driven by strong semiconductor exports, which boosted the goods balance before the Middle East war began to disrupt global energy markets and shipping. The goods account surplus rose to a record $23.36 billion from $15.17 billion in the previous month, as exports surged 29.9% year-on-year to $70.37 billion, far outpacing a 4.0% rise in imports to $47.0 billion. The services account deficit narrowed to $1.86 billion from $3.80 billion, supported by smaller shortfalls in travel and the use of intellectual property. Meanwhile, the primary income surplus edged down to $2.48 billion from $2.72 billion, reflecting a drop in income on equity. The secondary income deficit also fell slightly to $0.79 billion from $0.83 billion.
2026-04-08
South Korea Current Account Surplus Falls in January
South Korea’s current account surplus narrowed to $13.26 billion in January 2026 from $18.7 billion in December, marking the 33rd consecutive month that the country recorded a surplus and the second-longest streak in its history. It was also the fifth-largest current account surplus ever recorded for the month of January, supported by a semiconductor upcycle and resilient export performance. The goods account posted a net $15.17 billion surplus as exports surged 30.0% year-on-year to $65.51 billion, while imports rose 7.0% to $50.34 billion over the same period. Meanwhile, the services account recorded a $3.80 billion deficit, largely due to shortfalls in the travel and other business services accounts. The primary income account registered a $2.72 billion surplus, reflecting higher income from equity investments. The secondary income account, however, posted a $0.83 billion deficit.
2026-03-05
South Korea Logs Record Current Account Surplus in 2025
South Korea’s current account surplus jumped to $123.05 billion in 2025 from $99.97 billion the previous year, marking the largest annual surplus on record on robust exports, particularly in semiconductors. The result surpassed both the previous high of $105.1 billion in 2015 and the Bank of Korea’s forecast of $115 billion. In December, the country posted a record monthly surplus of $18.7 billion, up from $12.9 billion in November. The goods account contributed $18.85 billion, as exports rose 13.1% year-on-year to $71.65 billion, while imports grew 1.7% to $52.8 billion. The services account recorded a $3.69 billion deficit, largely due to increased demand for overseas travel during the winter vacation season. Meanwhile, the primary income account—which tracks wages of foreign workers, dividend payments, and interest income—posted a $4.73 billion surplus, up sharply from November’s $1.53 billion.
2026-02-06