South Korea’s exports nearly doubled in October, rising 93.7% from a year earlier to $115.3 billion, the second-highest monthly total on record after September’s $120.94 billion, according to KBS World as global demand for artificial intelligence hardware lifted chip sales, according to figures from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources reported by Yonhap via The Korea Times.
The ministry said the increase was the fastest since January 1974, Investing.com reported. Economists polled for that report had expected growth of about 93.2%.
Key Highlights
- October exports rose 93.7% to $115.3 billion, the second-highest monthly total on record after September’s $120.94 billion, according to KBS World.
- Chip exports hit $56.4 billion, up 259%.
- Shipments to the U.S. rose 185.8% to $24.9 billion.
- More working days than in October 2025, partly because of the Chuseok holiday’s timing, contributed to the year-over-year increase.
Chips Account for Roughly Half of Exports
Semiconductor exports reached $56.4 billion in October, up 259% from a year earlier, the ministry data showed. By Western News Daily’s calculation, that is about 49% of total shipments.
Investing.com reported that computer exports jumped 496.6%, driven by demand for servers that support AI. The ministry credited sustained investment in AI computing infrastructure by major global technology companies, according to the same report.
The same demand is shaping U.S. tech earnings. Western News Daily has covered how AI growth expectations are being tested as Apple, Qualcomm and AMD report results.
Gains Across Major Markets
Exports to the United States rose 185.8% to $24.9 billion, led by chips, computers and AI-related electrical equipment, according to the Korea Times report. Shipments to China climbed 133.6% to $26.98 billion.
Southeast Asia took $21.33 billion, up 128%. Exports to the European Union rose 56.4% to $8.1 billion.
Other sectors also grew, though far more slowly than chips. Petroleum product exports rose 80% to $6.92 billion, and cosmetics climbed 57.5% to $1.44 billion. Automobile exports increased 18.1% to $6.55 billion, helped by overseas demand for gasoline hybrids.
Exports to China have now topped $20 billion for five straight months, the Korea Times report said. That report attributed the U.S. gain mainly to chips, computers and AI-related electrical equipment.
Imports and the Trade Surplus
Imports rose 36% to $72.78 billion, leaving a trade surplus of $42.5 billion. Investing.com reported that the surplus was smaller than September’s record of $49.97 billion.
Growth also accelerated from September, when exports rose 83.7%, according to the same report.
A Calendar Effect Also Boosted Growth
The year-over-year comparison also benefited from the timing of the Chuseok holiday, which left October 2026 with more working days than October 2025, Reuters reported. The available reports do not provide a working-day-adjusted growth figure, so the precise calendar effect is unclear.
That means part of the jump reflects the calendar and not only demand. The sources reviewed did not give a working-day-adjusted growth figure, so it is unclear how much of the increase the calendar explains.
What Officials Are Watching
Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan said, “The global trade environment remains uncertain,” according to the Korea Times. He pointed to pressure on small and medium-sized companies from rising protectionism, shifting supply chains and Middle East tensions, and said the government plans to expand trade cooperation and work to remove export barriers.
Cumulative exports for January through October topped $900 billion for the first time, the report said. The ministry projects that annual exports could reach $1 trillion as early as November if the current trend continues. That is a projection, not a confirmed result.
For U.S. readers, the data offers a closely watched signal of how strongly AI-related spending is flowing through the global chip supply chain. Monthly export figures can be volatile, and a single month does not set a trend. Western News Daily will update this report if the ministry releases adjusted figures.