SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA / RankWire.AI / – South Korea achieved a record current account surplus of $49.73 billion in June, driven by a significant rise in semiconductor exports. The Bank of Korea highlighted a notable jump from the previous peak of $38.61 billion in May. This month also marked the 38th consecutive month that the country maintained a current account surplus. The majority of this increase was attributed to robust goods exports, with technology shipments playing a leading role in the expansion of overseas sales.
For the first half of the year, the current account surplus reached a total of $191.01 billion, setting a new record for the January to June period. This figure surpassed the $47.87 billion recorded during the same period last year. Additionally, the half-year total exceeded South Korea’s entire 2025 surplus of $123.05 billion. The growth in exports accelerated during this period, supported by rising global demand for semiconductors and other information technology products, which bolstered the country’s trade performance.
South Korea’s goods account achieved a record surplus of $47.89 billion in June. Under balance-of-payments standards, goods exports surged 84.5% year-over-year to $112.37 billion, while imports increased by 38.6% to $64.48 billion during the same month. The widening gap between export and import growth contributed to the highest monthly goods balance and was the main driver behind the overall current account surplus.
Technology exports surge driven by chip sales
Exports of semiconductors increased by 196.9% compared to the previous year, making them the largest contributor among major technology categories. Exports of computer peripherals rose by 282.7%, while total information technology exports grew by 160.4% in June. The rise in computer peripheral shipments was partly due to increased exports of solid-state drives and related equipment. Non-technology exports also saw an 18.6% rise, with petroleum and chemical products among the categories experiencing higher shipments compared to June 2025.
Data from customs showed South Korea’s total exports reaching $102.25 billion in June, representing a 70.9% increase from the previous year. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources reported semiconductor exports of approximately $44.82 billion for the same month. Imports climbed 30.1% to $66.10 billion, resulting in a customs trade surplus of $36.15 billion. It is important to note that customs trade figures and balance-of-payments data differ due to distinct accounting methods and coverage standards.
Services deficit diminishes part of the trade surplus
The services account registered a deficit of $1.29 billion in June, partially offsetting the large surplus from goods trade. The travel account posted a $440 million surplus, marking the second consecutive month of positive results. The primary income account added a $3.27 billion surplus for the month, with dividend income making up $2.56 billion of that total. Meanwhile, the financial account experienced an increase of $46.71 billion in net assets during the same period.
Trade figures for July indicated continued growth following June’s record current account surplus. South Korea’s exports reached $98.89 billion in July, a 62.8% rise from the previous year. Semiconductors saw a 179% increase, while imports grew by 26.5% to $68.56 billion. The country recorded a customs trade surplus of $30.32 billion for July, further extending the strong export performance observed the previous month.