FX.co ★ South Korea Exports Rise More than Expected

Exports jumped 68.7% year-on-year to USD 98.25 billion in August 2026, beating market expectations of 62.6% and accelerating from an upwardly revised 63% gain in July. This marked the 15th straight month of export growth and the third-highest monthly export value on record, following the milestone in June when exports surpassed USD 100 billion for the first time. The surge was largely driven by robust demand for memory chips: semiconductor exports rose for the 15th consecutive month, soaring 209.0% to a new record of USD 46.65 billion and staying above USD 40 billion for the third month in a row.