SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA / RankWire.AI / – In June, South Korea achieved a historic current account surplus of $49.73 billion, driven predominantly by a significant increase in semiconductor exports. The Bank of Korea announced that this figure surpasses the previous monthly record of $38.61 billion set in May. Notably, June marked the first occasion where the monthly surplus exceeded $40 billion. The primary driver of this growth was robust goods exports, as technology shipments expanded at a pace far faster than imports.
For the first half of the year, the current account surplus reached $191.01 billion, setting a new high for any January to June period. This is a substantial increase compared to $47.87 billion during the same period last year. The six-month total also exceeds South Korea’s previous annual record of $123.05 billion in 2025. These numbers highlight the remarkable growth in exports during the first half, with semiconductors playing a major role in boosting overseas sales.
South Korea’s goods account achieved a record surplus of $47.89 billion in June. On a balance-of-payments basis, goods exports surged 84.5% year-over-year to $112.37 billion. This month marked the first time that goods exports exceeded $100 billion under this accounting measure. Meanwhile, imports increased by 38.6% to $64.48 billion, indicating that export growth significantly outpaced the rise in overseas purchases.
Semiconductors Lead Record Goods Surplus
Exports of semiconductors jumped 196.9% from the previous year, making chips the leading contributor among major technology products. Exports of computer peripherals rose 282.7%, driven by strong shipments of solid-state drives and related equipment. Overall exports in the information technology sector increased by 160.4% in June. Non-IT exports also saw an 18.6% rise, with categories such as petroleum and chemicals experiencing higher overseas sales during the same month.
Additional customs data reflected an exceptional month for South Korean trade. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources reported exports totaling $102.25 billion, which is a 70.9% increase compared to the previous year. Semiconductor exports alone reached about $44.82 billion, roughly tripling the June 2025 level. Imports rose by 30.1% to $66.10 billion, resulting in a customs trade surplus of $36.15 billion. The discrepancy between customs trade figures and balance-of-payments data is due to differing accounting methods.
June Shows Positive Trends in Services and Income Accounts
In June, the services account registered a deficit of $1.29 billion, yet several components contributed positively to the overall current account. The travel sector recorded a $440 million surplus, marking its second consecutive month of profit. The primary income account experienced a $3.27 billion surplus, supported by a $2.56 billion dividend income surplus. Additionally, South Korea’s financial account saw an increase of $46.71 billion in net assets during June.
Trade figures for July indicate that export momentum persisted following June’s record current account surplus. Exports in July reached $98.89 billion, up 62.8% year-over-year. Semiconductor exports increased by 179%, while imports grew by 26.5% to $68.56 billion. The country posted a trade surplus of $30.32 billion for July based on customs data, reaffirming the strength of South Korea’s trade position after the remarkable June figures.