South Korea October exports surge 93.7 percent to $115.3 billion

South Korea's exports rose 93.7 percent in October from a year earlier to a preliminary $115.28 billion, the second-largest monthly total on record, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said, lifting January to October exports to $930 billion and past $900 billion for the first time.

Why it matters: Semiconductors supplied almost half the month's exports, and the ministry says the pace makes South Korea all but certain to post its first $1 trillion export year in November, a milestone that rests heavily on AI-driven chip demand.

Data as of Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy October 2026 trade release, published November 1, 2026, as reported by Yonhap (read in full in Korean in this run) and Seoul Economic Daily (read in full); the ministry's own release text was not read directly in this run, and the two reports agree on every figure used. Yonhap Infomax's pre-release poll of nine institutions had centred on $111.8 billion. Developing item.

South Korea’s exports rose 93.7 percent in October from a year earlier to a preliminary $115.28 billion, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said on November 1, the second-largest monthly total on record after September’s $121.1 billion and a second straight month above $110 billion. Semiconductor exports jumped 259.4 percent to $56.44 billion, above $50 billion for a second month, and exports rose for 18 of the 20 leading items and in seven of nine destination regions, with shipments to China up 133.6 percent to $26.98 billion and to the United States up 185.8 percent to $24.9 billion.

Imports rose 36.0 percent to $72.78 billion, leaving a trade surplus of $42.5 billion, above $40 billion for a second straight month. Cumulative exports for January through October reached $930 billion, up 60.6 percent from a year earlier and past $900 billion for the first time, and Trade Minister Kim Jung-kwan said annual exports will reach $1 trillion in November if the current pace holds.

South Korea October exports surge 93.7 percent to $115.3 billion

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