NewsSouth Korea's September exports set record at $120.94 billion
South Korea's September exports rose 83.5% year over year to $120.94 billion. Semiconductor exports reached $60.30 billion and the monthly trade surplus was $49.85 billion.
Event / data period: 2026-09
Published: · Updated:
IllustrationThe Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources said September 2026 exports exceeded $120 billion for the first time. Imports increased 26% to $71.09 billion, leaving a trade surplus of $49.85 billion.
Semiconductor exports climbed 262.8% year over year to $60.30 billion. Exports for January through September totalled $814.5 billion, above the ministry's reported 2025 full-year total of $709.3 billion. The figures cover customs-cleared merchandise trade.
Data
Merchandise trade indicators
South Korea's customs-basis merchandise trade results for September 2026.
- Merchandise exports
- 120.94 billion USD
- 2026-09 · Observed
- Year-over-year merchandise export growth
- 83.5 percent
- 2026-09 · Observed
- Semiconductor exports
- 60.3 billion USD
- 2026-09 · Observed
- Trade surplus
- 49.85 billion USD
- 2026-09 · Observed
Methodology
Nominal US-dollar values and year-over-year changes are transcribed from the ministry's September 2026 release; comparisons are with the same month a year earlier.
Updated:
Subjects and places
Subject proposals
- international tradeSuggested
- Subject suggested from the title or summary: exports rose 83.5% year over year to $120.94 billion. Semiconductor exports reached $60.30 billion and the monthly trade surplus, trade surplusenglish.motir.go.kr ↗
- semiconductor and electronic componentSuggested
- Subject suggested from the title or summary: Semiconductorenglish.motir.go.kr ↗
Geographic references
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- Republic of Korea · Republic of Korea · Place role: Coverage · Place type: Country or area · Location precision: RegionalEvidence
- Explicit preserved editorial country/region; no city or national centroid inferredenglish.motir.go.kr ↗