Mid-July exports hit a record $54.9 billion, with semiconductors up 180% and accounting for 40% of total exports
- Input
- 2026-07-21 18:18:43
- Updated
- 2026-07-21 18:18:43
According to preliminary data released by the Korea Customs Service (KCS) on July 21 for trade trends from July 1 to 20, exports totaled $54.933 billion, up 52.3%, or $18.87 billion, from a year earlier. That marked the highest figure ever for the same period in July.
Average daily exports, adjusted for the number of working days, also jumped 62.9% from $2.33 billion a year earlier to $3.79 billion. The period included 14.5 working days, one day fewer than the 15.5 days in the same period last year.
By item, semiconductor exports surged 180.6% to $22.1 billion, setting a new July record. Semiconductors also accounted for 40.3% of total exports, up 18.4 percentage points. Computer peripherals and petroleum products also performed well, rising 231.9% and 33.4%, respectively, while passenger car exports fell 10.6%.
By destination, exports to China jumped 94.1%. Shipments also increased across major markets, including Vietnam, up 82.4%; Taiwan, up 41.8%; the United States, up 39.6%; and the European Union (EU), up 30.3%. Exports to the top three markets — China, the United States and Vietnam — accounted for 51.9% of total exports.
Imports over the same period rose 20.0%, or $7.11 billion, from a year earlier to $42.715 billion, KCS said. By major item, imports of semiconductors rose 54.9%, semiconductor manufacturing equipment 56.9%, crude oil 27.5% and gas 27.9%. Energy imports, including crude oil, gas and coal, increased 27.4%. By country, imports rose from Taiwan by 45.7%, China by 21.8%, the United States by 17.1%, Japan by 14.6% and the EU by 9.7%.
With exports far outpacing imports, the trade balance posted a surplus of $12.219 billion during the period. The cumulative trade surplus for this year through July 20 stood at $149.98 billion.
[email protected] Kim Won-joon Reporter