In early 2026, South Korea reported a remarkable increase in exports, reaching $709.4 billion, slightly above last year's total of $709.3 billion, according to data from the country's customs service.
The surge is largely attributed to a significant rise in semiconductor exports, which jumped 169.6% year-on-year to $281 billion from January to August. This sector now represents 41% of the nation's total exports. Major players like Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix have particularly benefited from the increased prices of memory chips, driven by heightened demand in the artificial intelligence sector.
