Seoul
South Korea’s exports remained strong, crossing $80 billion for a second straight month in April, driven by semiconductor demand.
Outbound shipments reached $85.89 billion, up 48% year-on-year, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources. This marks the second-highest monthly export figure, just below March’s record of $86.6 billion.
Imports rose 16.7% to $62.11 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of $23.77 billion. It was also the second consecutive month with a surplus exceeding $20 billion.
The surge was largely fueled by a semiconductor boom. Chip exports soared 173.5% to $31.9 billion, the highest ever for April, supported by strong global demand for AI-related semiconductors and rising memory chip prices.
Petroleum product exports increased 39.9% to $5.11 billion, despite lower shipment volumes, as global oil prices climbed amid tensions in the Middle East. However, export volumes of gasoline, diesel and kerosene declined significantly due to government restrictions aimed at stabilising domestic fuel supply.
Computer exports jumped 515.8% to $4.08 billion, setting a new monthly record, reflecting growing demand for solid-state drives tied to AI expansion.
Other sectors also posted gains, with electrical equipment, cosmetics, and agro-fisheries exports rising steadily to record April levels.
In contrast, automobile exports fell 5.5 percent to $6.17 billion, impacted by shipping disruptions and increased overseas production, particularly in the United States, in response to tariff policies.
