Korea’s January exports hit record $65.85bn as semiconductors and EVs surge
Creatrip Team
a month ago
South Korea’s exports rose strongly in January to a record $65.85 billion, driven by a semiconductor boom and healthy demand for eco-friendly cars. Exports were up 33.9% year‑on‑year and marked the 8th consecutive month of growth, producing a $8.74 billion trade surplus—the largest January surplus on record and the 12th straight monthly surplus. Semiconductors (including high‑bandwidth memory HBM and DDR5) more than doubled from a year earlier and posted the second‑best monthly result ever, while automotive exports grew 21.7% thanks to more working days and higher sales of hybrid and electric vehicles (EVs). Major markets including China and the U.S. saw big gains; China shipments rose 46.7% and U.S. demand was buoyed by chips despite tariff‑related weakness in some sectors. Other strong performers included displays, SSDs (solid‑state drives), cosmetics, and biohealth. Energy imports fell as oil and gas prices eased. Trade minister Kim Jung‑kwan warned of uncertainty from U.S. tariff policies but pledged continued negotiations and diversified export strategies to protect national interests.
