Korea’s Oct. 1–20 Exports Double to $61.6B on Chips

A harbor at dawn with containers stacked in layers

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As of October 21, 2026, South Korea's exports for Oct. 1–20 totaled about $61.6 billion, more than double the same stretch a year earlier. Shipments rose 105.4%, driven almost entirely by semiconductors, and the trade balance came in about $14.5 billion in the black.

About $61.6BExports, Oct. 1–20

222.5%Growth in semiconductor exports

44.7%Chips' share of total exports

About $14.5BTrade surplus, same period

Key points

According to preliminary Korea Customs Service data, exports for Oct. 1–20 reached about $61.6 billion, up 105.4%.
Semiconductor exports hit about $27.5 billion, more than triple last year's level, and made up 44.7% of all exports.
Adjusted for working days, average daily exports came to about $4.74 billion, topping September's record.
Imports over the same period were about $47.1 billion, leaving a trade surplus of about $14.5 billion.

The Korea Customs Service released preliminary export and import figures for the first 20 days of October on Wednesday. Exports came to about $61.6 billion, up more than $30 billion from the same point last year. It's the biggest total for this stretch of any October on record.

The engine was semiconductors. Chip exports reached about $27.5 billion, more than triple last year's figure. That pushed chips to 44.7% of all exports, up from 28.4% a year earlier. Computer peripherals jumped more than 400%, and petroleum products, passenger cars and steel products all grew by double digits or more.

One caveat: this year's window had more working days. It counted 13, versus 10.5 last year, a gap of 2.5 days. Even so, average daily exports rose 65.9% to about $4.74 billion, topping September's previous record of roughly $4.6 billion.

By destination, exports to China reached about $16.7 billion and exports to the US about $10.8 billion, each up in the 150% range. Shipments to Vietnam, the European Union and Taiwan also grew. Imports rose 42.8% to about $47.1 billion, with chips, crude oil, gas and machinery all higher. With exports far outpacing imports, the surplus came to about $14.5 billion.

Cumulative exports from January through Oct. 20 stand at roughly $876 billion, leaving about $124 billion to reach the $1 trillion mark. If the current pace holds, forecasters expect Korea to top $1 trillion in annual exports for the first time ever before the year is out.

In Korea right nowIn Korea, the hot question right now is when annual exports will cross $1 trillion. The pace is so steep that people are talking about the full-year target based on partial-month data, not just monthly totals. At the same time, with chips now above 40% of all exports, there's fresh attention on how much Korean trade rides on a single industry.

FAQ

Why does everyone track average daily exports?

Mid-month figures can cover a different number of working days each year. This year's window had 2.5 more days than last year's, so comparing raw totals could make the gain look bigger than it is. Adjusting to a daily average evens that out, and exports still rose 65.9%.

Are these numbers final?

No. They're preliminary, customs-clearance-based figures from the Korea Customs Service, and they may shift slightly in the end-of-month tally and later releases.

Is the $1 trillion annual export mark guaranteed?

No. Cumulative exports stood at about $876 billion as of Oct. 20, so many observers see the milestone as likely, but it still depends on how the rest of the year plays out.