South Korea’s exports totalled 61.6 billion dollars in the first 20 days of October, up 105.4 percent from the same period a year earlier and the largest October 1 to 20 tally on record, according to provisional Korea Customs Service figures reported by Yonhap. The period had 13 working days against 10.5 a year earlier, and on a daily average basis exports rose 65.9 percent to 4.74 billion dollars, also a record and above September’s 4.6 billion. Semiconductor exports drove the increase, surging 222.5 percent to 27.5 billion dollars and taking a 44.7 percent share of the total, while imports rose 42.8 percent to 47.1 billion dollars, leaving a trade surplus of 14.5 billion dollars for the 20 days and cumulative 2026 exports of 876.3 billion dollars.
South Korea exports double in first 20 days of October
South Korea's exports reached 61.6 billion dollars in the first 20 days of October, up 105.4 percent from a year earlier and a record for the period, as semiconductor shipments surged 222.5 percent, the Korea Customs Service said.
Why it matters: Chips now account for 44.7 percent of Korean exports, so the print is a direct read on AI hardware demand, and at the current pace Korea's cumulative exports pass 1 trillion dollars next month.
Data as of Korea Customs Service provisional customs data for October 1 to 20, 2026, as reported in full by Yonhap News Agency on October 21, 2026, in Korean. The customs release itself was not in the feed queue, so the figures are carried on Yonhap's reporting of it. Single source, hence grade C. Developing item.
Sources
- Mid-October exports 61.6 billion dollars, double last year, daily average also a record (comprehensive) - Yonhap News Agency - 2026-10-21