Korea’s Exports Hit Record $26.1B in Early October

Stacks of shipping containers filling a port at dawn

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As of October 12, 2026, South Korea's exports for the first 10 days of October totaled about $26.1 billion, more than double a year earlier and a record for that stretch of the month. Semiconductors drove the surge, making up nearly half of all shipments. The trade surplus over the same period was about $3.8 billion.

$26.1 billionExports, Oct. 1-10 (preliminary, customs-clearance basis)

170.9%Year-over-year growth in chip exports

46.7%Chips' share of total exports

$3.8 billionTrade surplus for the same period

Key points

Preliminary Korea Customs Service data (customs-clearance basis) show exports of about $26.1 billion from Oct. 1 to 10, the highest ever for the period.
Chip exports hit about $12.2 billion, roughly 2.7 times the level a year earlier, and accounted for 46.7% of all exports.
Imports rose to about $22.3 billion, but exports grew faster, leaving a trade surplus of about $3.8 billion.
This year's period had two more working days than last year's, but daily average exports still rose 28.5%.

Preliminary figures from the Korea Customs Service (customs-clearance basis) show South Korea shipped about $26.1 billion worth of goods overseas in the first 10 days of October. That's more than double the same stretch last October, and a record for the period. One caveat: this year's window had 5.5 working days, two more than last year, which inflates the raw growth rate somewhat. On a per-day basis, exports averaged about $4.75 billion. That's still up 28.5% from last year, and still a record for the period.

Semiconductors did the heavy lifting. Chip exports reached about $12.2 billion, roughly 2.7 times last year's level and another record for the period. Chips made up 46.7% of all exports, 11.9 percentage points higher than at this point last year.

Most other categories grew too. Passenger cars and wireless communication devices rose by 80% and 60%, respectively, while steel products and refined petroleum products each climbed by about 40%. Ships were the notable exception, falling 13.4%. By market, shipments to China rose by roughly 167% and to the US by nearly 160%, while the European Union grew by about 120% and Vietnam by nearly 90%. China, the US and Vietnam together accounted for 52.3% of total exports.

Imports climbed as well. They totaled about $22.3 billion, up 65.5% from a year earlier. Gas imports more than doubled, crude oil rose 56.2% and semiconductors 66.7%, and combined energy imports (crude, gas and coal) were up 64.8%. Only refined petroleum product imports fell, by 10.9%. With exports outpacing imports, the trade surplus came to about $3.8 billion.

In Korea right nowIn Korea, the numbers have sharpened a familiar worry and a familiar boast: a single product, chips, now props up nearly half of all exports. Local media also noted that daily average exports rose even after adjusting for the extra working days. Some analysts caution that this is only a 10-day preliminary tally, so whether the pace holds for the full month won't be clear until the end-of-month data arrives.

FAQ

Why did exports double?

The biggest driver was a surge in semiconductor exports. The first 10 days of October also had 5.5 working days this year versus 3.5 last year, which inflates the headline growth. Adjusted for that, daily average exports rose 28.5%.

Is this the full October figure?

No. It's a preliminary customs-clearance tally for Oct. 1 to 10 from the Korea Customs Service. Full-month exports will be finalized in later reports.

Is Korea running a trade surplus or deficit?

A surplus. Exports of about $26.1 billion outpaced imports of about $22.3 billion, a gap of about $3.8 billion.