South Korea’s trade surplus surged to an all-time high of USD 49.85 billion in September 2026, up sharply from USD 9.48 billion a year earlier and well above market expectations of USD 38.2 billion, flash data showed. This marked the 20th consecutive month in surplus, as export growth continued to outpace imports.
Exports jumped 83.5% year-on-year, accelerating from a 68.7% increase in August and registering the fastest expansion since February 1974, largely driven by a surge in semiconductor shipments. It was the 16th straight month of export growth, with overseas sales hitting a new monthly record after first surpassing USD 100 billion in June.
Imports rose 26% from a year earlier, picking up from a revised 22.4% gain in August, supported by resilient domestic demand.
