South Korea Balance of Trade

South Korea's trade surplus increased to USD 9.08 billion in June 2025, up from USD 7.99 billion in the same month a year earlier, and surpassing market expectations of USD 8.4 billion, preliminary data showed. It was the largest trade surplus since September 2018, as exports rose more than imports. Exports grew 4.3% year-on-year, falling short of expectations for a 4.7% rise, but recovering from a 1.3% decline in the previous month, mainly driven by robust semiconductor shipments. Semiconductor exports—the country’s main export item—jumped 11.4% year-on-year to a record high of USD 14.97 billion. Exports grew despite a 0.5% decline in shipments to the US, impacted by tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump. Meanwhile, imports rose 3.3% in June, rebounding from a 5.3% drop in May, but still below market expectations for a 6.9% increase. Non-energy imports climbed 7.9% from a year earlier, while energy imports declined by 14.7%.