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South Korean exports surged far more than expected in September, driving the country’s trade surplus higher as strong global demand for artificial intelligence chips and electronics continued to support Asia’s fourth-largest economy.
Preliminary government data released Thursday showed exports jumped 83.5% year-on-year in September, marking their fastest growth rate in nearly five decades. The increase easily surpassed market expectations for a 61.7% gain and accelerated from the 68.7% rise recorded in August.
The sharp expansion in overseas shipments pushed South Korea’s trade surplus to $49.85 billion, well above economists’ forecast of $38.20 billion.
South Korea’s export sector has maintained strong momentum since June 2025, benefiting from booming investment in AI infrastructure, semiconductors and data centers worldwide. The country is a major supplier of advanced memory chips used in AI servers and other high-performance computing systems.
Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix have been among the biggest beneficiaries of the AI-driven semiconductor boom. Tight global memory supplies, combined with rapidly rising demand from technology companies building AI infrastructure, have supported stronger shipments and pricing conditions for South Korean chipmakers.
The September figures reinforce the growing importance of semiconductors and electronics to South Korea’s trade performance. Continued spending on AI data centers has helped sustain demand for memory products even as other parts of the global economy face uncertainty.
Imports also climbed sharply during the month, reflecting stronger domestic economic activity linked to the AI trade. Higher energy costs contributed to the increase as oil and natural gas prices remained elevated amid the ongoing Middle East conflict.
South Korean imports rose 26% year-on-year in September, exceeding market expectations for a 21.5% increase.
Despite the jump in imports, the much stronger rise in exports allowed South Korea to record a larger-than-expected trade surplus, highlighting the continued strength of its AI and semiconductor-driven export sector.
