South Korea Exports Rise 14.9% in First 20 Days of January

South Korea’s exports surged 33.9% yoy to USD 65.85 billion in January 2026, following a downwardly revised 13.3% increase in December 2025. It was the strongest export growth since June 2021, mainly driven by robust demand for semiconductors, the country’s top export item, which jumped 102.7% on strong AI-related demand. The increase was also supported by a higher number of working days compared with January last year. It also marked the highest January figure on record and the first time January exports exceeded USD 60 billion. Outbound shipments also grew for cars (21.7%), wireless communication devices (66.9%), computers (89.2%), and petroleum products (8.5%). Among trading partners, exports to China jumped 46.7%, while total exports to the US advanced 29.5%. However, car and machinery exports to the US fell 13% and 34%, due to the impact of tariff effects. Last year, exports totaled a record USD 709.7 billion in 2025, surpassing USD 700 billion for the first time.

South Korea’s exports grew 14.9% year-on-year to USD 36.36 billion in the first 20 days of January 2026, data from the Korea Customs Service showed on Wednesday. The growth was driven by robust demand for semiconductors, the country’s top export item, which surged 70.2% year-on-year to USD 10.73 billion. Chip exports accounted for 29.5% of total exports during the period, up 9.6 percentage points from the same period last year. Export growth was also recorded in petroleum products, which rose 17.6%, while steel exports climbed 1.2%. Among trading partners, exports to China, South Korea’s top trading partner, surged 30.2% to USD 8.45 billion. Meanwhile, exports to the US increased 19.3% to USD 6.66 billion, despite the US imposing new tariffs. In December 2025, outbound shipments rose 13.4% yoy to USD 69.58 billion, marking the fastest increase since July 2024. Exports totaled a record USD 709.7 billion in 2025, surpassing USD 700 billion for the first time.

South Korea's exports reached a record USD 709.7 billion in 2025, surpassing USD 700 billion for the first time. Outbound shipments rose 3.8% from the previous year, driven by semiconductors, the country’s top export item, which surged 22.2% to an all-time high of USD 173.4 billion amid growing demand fueled by artificial intelligence (AI). By destination, exports increased to ASEAN (7.4%) and the EU (3.0%), while declining to China (-1.7%) and the US (-3.8%) due to the impact of new tariffs. In December, outbound shipments jumped 13.4% from a year earlier to a record USD 69.58 billion, marking the seventh consecutive month of growth and the strongest increase since July 2024. The figure accelerated from an 8.4% rise in November and exceeded market expectations of an 8.3% gain, amid easing concerns over global trade uncertainty. The increase was led by semiconductor exports, which soared 43.2% to an all-time monthly high of USD 20.77 billion.