South Korea’s Exports Climb to US $59 Billion in October as Chip Demand Stays Strong
The fifth consecutive month of export growth reinforces Korea’s chip-driven trade recovery and signals enduring global appetite for advanced semiconductors.
South Korea’s exports surged to approximately US $59 billion in October, marking the fifth straight month of growthas demand for semiconductors continues to anchor the nation’s trade performance.
According to data released by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, outbound shipments rose by 3.6 per cent year-on-year, underscoring the resilience of Korea’s technology sector amid an uneven global economic recovery. Semiconductor exports—comprising memory, foundry and logic chips—expanded by more than 25 per cent, driven by robust orders for AI-ready memory solutions and data-centre components.
“The semiconductor sector remains the backbone of Korea’s export economy,” said a senior ministry official. “AI infrastructure build-outs and next-generation computing are creating sustained demand across the supply chain.”
Other key contributors included machinery, displays, and automotive components, though chips accounted for the largest share of the growth. Analysts noted that while consumer electronics shipments showed mild contraction, the strength of industrial and AI-related chip sales more than compensated.
Industry observers view the trend as a positive indicator for the wider Asia-Pacific semiconductor ecosystem. The continued stability of chip exports suggests that the region’s memory-fab networks are transitioning from cyclical recovery to structural expansion, powered by the proliferation of AI applications and cloud computing investments.
Outlook
Economists anticipate that export momentum could extend into the first quarter of 2026, supported by rising global capital expenditure on AI infrastructure and next-gen devices. However, they cautioned that persistent geopolitical risks and currency fluctuations may temper short-term gains.
