South Korea's exports recorded an extraordinary increase in October 2026, rising 93.7% year-on-year to an unprecedented $115.28 billion, according to official trade figures released on Sunday.
The performance marked the strongest annual increase in exports since January 1974, supported by booming semiconductor demand, rising global technology investment and favorable calendar effects.
The increase also exceeded economists' expectations of approximately 93.2% growth, reflecting the strength of international demand for South Korean products.
Semiconductor exports were a major contributor to the country's exceptional performance, jumping approximately 259% year-on-year to $56.4 billion.
The increase was driven by rising global demand for advanced chips and continued investment in artificial intelligence infrastructure.
Other sectors also demonstrated positive momentum. Automobile exports increased 18.1%, while overseas sales of petroleum products climbed approximately 80%.
However, the exceptionally high headline growth rate was partly influenced by the number of working days available during October compared with the previous year, due to differences in the timing of the Chuseok holidays.
South Korea's imports increased 36% to $72.78 billion, producing a monthly trade surplus of approximately $42.5 billion.
Cumulative exports reached around $930 billion during the first ten months of the year, bringing the country closer to the milestone of $1 trillion in annual exports.
The latest figures underline South Korea's importance in global manufacturing and supply chains, particularly in semiconductors and advanced industrial products.
For international businesses, the results provide an important indication of global industrial demand, although the sustainability of the current growth rate will depend on international investment trends and economic conditions.
