FX.co ★ South Korea Posts Record-High Trade Surplus

South Korea’s trade surplus widened sharply to USD 26.95 billion in May 2026, up from USD 6.93 billion a year earlier, beating market expectations of a USD 24.3 billion surplus. This marked the 16th consecutive month in surplus and the largest trade surplus on record, according to preliminary data. Exports surged 53.2% year-on-year to an all-time high of USD 87.8 billion, exceeding forecasts of 48.4% growth and accelerating from April’s 48.0% increase, largely driven by booming semiconductor shipments. Imports rose 20.8%, slightly below the expected 21.5% but faster than April’s 16.7% gain, extending their expansion to a seventh straight month on the back of robust domestic demand.