According to Yonhap News,

(Sejong = Yonhap News) Reporter An Chae-won – Driven by a booming semiconductor industry, exports during the early days of this month increased by more than 50 percent compared to the same period last year, setting a new all-time high record.

According to preliminary data released by the Korea Customs Service on the 13th, export value from July 1 to 10 (on a customs-cleared basis) reached USD 29.8 billion, marking a 53.9 percent increase year-on-year. This is the largest-ever volume for the July 1–10 period. It broke the previous record of USD 28.6 billion set just one month ago during the June 1–10 period.

The number of working days stood at 8.5 days, identical to the same period last year (8.5 days). Consequently, the average daily export value (USD 3.51 billion) also surged by 53.9 percent.

By product category, semiconductor exports nearly tripled, expanding by 193.0 percent to reach USD 11.2 billion. This marks an all-time high for semiconductor exports during a July 1–10 timeframe. The share of semiconductors within total exports stood at 37.6 percent, rising by 17.8 percentage points from a year earlier.

Exports of petroleum products (22.7 percent) also expanded significantly, while passenger vehicles edged up by 5.7 percent. The export growth rate for computer peripherals reached a staggering 208.1 percent.

By destination, exports posted synchronized growth across all major markets, including China (88.7 percent), the United States (43.2 percent), Vietnam (92.8 percent), the European Union (EU, 28.9 percent), and Taiwan (49.7 percent). The combined share of the top three destinations—China, the United States, and Vietnam—accounted for 51.7 percent of the total.

Imports totaled USD 23.5 billion, representing a 17.4 percent increase year-on-year.

Import increases were observed in semiconductors (49.6 percent), crude oil (19.0 percent), gas (24.8 percent), machinery (7.8 percent), and semiconductor manufacturing equipment (49.5 percent). Total imports of energy resources (crude oil, gas, and coal) rose by 23.4 percent.

By origin, imports grew from China (25.1 percent), the United States (4.7 percent), Japan (7.6 percent), and Taiwan (57.6 percent), while imports from the EU (negative 4.4 percent) declined.

As exports outpaced imports, the trade balance recorded a surplus of USD 6.4 billion.

chaewon@yna.co.kr



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Source Text

Source: Yonhap News (July 13, 2026)

** This article was translated from Korean.