Home > Business > Economy

Korea's exports top $80 billion for 2nd month in April

Published: 01 May. 2026, 10:22

A port in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi, on April 1 [YONHAP]

Korea's exports exceeded $80 billion for the second consecutive month in April, jumping nearly 50 percent from a year earlier on the back of robust shipments of semiconductors, government data showed Friday.

Outbound shipments totaled $85.89 billion last month, up 48 percent on year, according to the data compiled by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources.

The April tally marks the second-highest monthly export figure for the country, following an all-time high of $86.6 billion recorded in March.

Imports rose 16.7 percent on-year to $62.11 billion last month, resulting in a trade surplus of $23.77 billion.

April also marked the second consecutive month the country enjoyed a monthly trade surplus of over $20 billion.

The ministry largely attributed the sharp increase in exports to a semiconductor supercycle.

Chip exports amounted to $31.9 billion, spiking 173.5 percent from a year earlier and reaching the highest-ever figure for any April, on persisting demand for AI semiconductors and the continued rise of memory chip prices.

Exports of petroleum products soared 39.9 percent on year to $5.11 billion, despite a decrease in the volume of shipments, as oil prices surged due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, the ministry said.

Auto exports dropped 5.5 percent to $6.17 billion in April, due partly to shipping disruptions caused by the Iran war and Korean carmakers' expansion of production in the United States in response to Washington's tariff policies, according to the ministry.

By destination, exports to China jumped 62.5 percent on year to $17.7 billion in April, rising for the sixth consecutive month, on strong demand for semiconductor and IT products.

Exports to the U.S. gained 54 percent from a year earlier to $16.33 billion, with increased shipments of semiconductors and computers offsetting a drop in shipments of automobiles and machinery.

Shipments to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations surged 64 percent to $15.41 billion, while exports to the European Union climbed 8.5 percent to $7.19 billion.

Exports to the Middle East tumbled 25.1 percent on year to $1.27 billion amid the prolonged war between the United States and Iran, the ministry said.

Yonhap