South Korea’s trade surplus widened to USD 34.75 billion in August 2026, up sharply from USD 6.40 billion a year earlier and exceeding market expectations of USD 30.7 billion, flash data showed. This marked the 19th consecutive month of surplus, as export growth continued to outpace imports.
Exports soared 68.7% year-on-year to USD 98.25 billion, accelerating from a revised 63% increase in July, largely driven by a continued surge in semiconductor shipments, which rose for the 15th straight month. Imports climbed 22.5% from a year earlier to USD 63.51 billion, moderating from 26.5% growth in July, supported by resilient domestic demand.
