South Korea Balance of Trade

South Korea’s trade surplus widened to USD 12.18 billion in December 2025, up from USD 6.49 billion a year earlier and surpassing expectations of USD 10 billion, according to preliminary data. It was the largest monthly trade surplus since April 2017, as exports rose much more than imports. Outbound shipments surged 13.4% from a year earlier to a record USD 69.58 billion, the strongest growth since July 2024, accelerating from an 8.4% rise in November and exceeding forecasts of an 8.3% increase. The gains were mainly driven by a 43.2% surge in semiconductor exports, amid easing concerns over global trade uncertainty. Meanwhile, imports climbed 4.6% to an all-time high of USD 57.40 billion, following a downwardly revised 1.1% rise in November and topping market expectations of a 2.4% gain. For the full year of 2025, the country posted a trade surplus of USD 78 billion, with exports rising 3.8% to a record USD 709.7 billion, while imports edged down 0.02% to USD 631.7 billion.