South Korea semiconductor exports surge 199.5% in June, setting record trade surplus

AI-driven chip demand pushes South Korean exports to their strongest growth rate since 1978, with the monthly trade balance hitting a record US$36.15 billion.

By Handelsavisen Newsroom · Automated 2026-07-01 01:33 UTC · 1 min read

South Korea’s export engine accelerated to its most powerful pace in nearly five decades in June, driven by an explosion in semiconductor shipments.

Official trade data released Monday shows that chip exports surged 199.5% year-on-year to reach US$44.8 billion, marking the strongest monthly growth rate since 1978.

4% year-on-year in the first three weeks of June, according to preliminary data previously reported by Handelsavisen.

The surge underscores the intensifying global demand for artificial intelligence infrastructure, which continues to act as the primary tailwind for the region’s technology sector.

The broader export picture mirrored this strength, with total outbound shipments jumping 60.4% year-on-year in the first three weeks of June, according to preliminary data previously reported by Handelsavisen.

The full-month figures confirm that the momentum did not fade as the month progressed.

The massive influx of export revenue helped South Korea post a monthly trade balance of US$36.15 billion, the largest surplus on record for the country.