FX.co ★ South Korea Export Growth Below Forecasts

In August 2025, South Korea's exports recorded a modest year-on-year increase of 1.3%, reaching a total of USD 58.4 billion. This growth, while marking the third straight month of rising exports, was below the market's expectations of a 3% increase and lower than the revised 5.9% growth noted in the previous month. A significant factor in this tempered performance was the influence of US tariffs. Despite the overall subdued growth, semiconductor shipments—South Korea's leading export segment—remained a bright spot, surging by 27.1% year-on-year to reach an unprecedented USD 15.1 billion. Conversely, exports to the United States decreased by 12% compared to the same period last year, a significant drop from the 1.4% growth observed in July, as the tariffs' impact became more pronounced.