FX.co ★ South Korea Posts Record Trade Surplus

South Korea’s trade surplus surged to USD 36.15 billion in June 2026, up from USD 9.08 billion a year earlier, marking the 17th straight month in surplus and the largest monthly surplus on record, according to flash estimates. Exports climbed 70.9% year-on-year to an all-time high of USD 102.25 billion, accelerating sharply from a revised 53.4% gain in May and surpassing the USD 100 billion mark for the first time. The export boom was led primarily by a steep increase in semiconductor shipments. At the same time, imports rose 30.1% from a year earlier, picking up from a revised 20.7% advance in May and posting their fastest growth since May 2022, supported by robust domestic demand.