SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA / RankWire.AI / – In June, South Korea achieved a historic current account surplus of $49.73 billion, driven mainly by a significant boost in semiconductor exports. The Bank of Korea announced that this figure surpassed the previous monthly record of $38.61 billion set in May. June was the first month where the surplus exceeded $40 billion. The majority of this growth was fueled by robust goods exports, as technology shipments increased at a much faster rate than imports.
The cumulative current account surplus for the first half of the year reached $191.01 billion, the highest for any January through June period. This compares to $47.87 billion during the same period last year. The six-month total also broke South Korea’s previous full-year record of $123.05 billion in 2025. These figures highlight the remarkable export expansion, with semiconductors playing a key role in the surge of overseas sales.
South Korea’s goods account posted a record $47.89 billion surplus in June. Goods exports on a balance-of-payments basis soared 84.5% from a year earlier to $112.37 billion. For the first time, monthly goods exports crossed the $100 billion mark under this measure. Imports increased by 38.6% to $64.48 billion, keeping export growth well ahead of the rise in overseas purchases.
Semiconductors lead the charge in record goods surplus
Exports of semiconductors jumped 196.9% from a year earlier, making chips the strongest contributor among major technology categories. Exports of computer peripherals rose 282.7%, supported by strong shipments of solid-state drives and related equipment. Overall, information technology exports increased 160.4% in June. Non-IT exports also grew by 18.6%, with petroleum and chemical products among the categories experiencing higher overseas sales that month.
Customs data separately showed an exceptional June for South Korean trade. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources reported exports of $102.25 billion, up 70.9% from a year earlier. Semiconductor exports alone reached about $44.82 billion, roughly tripling the June 2025 level. Imports rose 30.1% to $66.10 billion, resulting in a customs trade surplus of $36.15 billion. The difference in totals between customs data and the balance-of-payments figures is due to their different accounting methods.
Services and income components contribute to June’s positive balance
In June, the services account showed a $1.29 billion deficit, but other components supported the overall current account. The travel balance recorded a $440 million surplus, marking a second consecutive month of positive results. The primary income account contributed a $3.27 billion surplus, aided by a $2.56 billion dividend income surplus. Additionally, South Korea’s financial account increased net assets by $46.71 billion during June.
Trade figures for July indicate continued strength after June’s record. South Korean exports reached $98.89 billion, up 62.8% from the previous year. Semiconductor exports grew by 179%, while imports increased 26.5% to $68.56 billion. The July trade surplus stood at $30.32 billion in customs data, confirming sustained trade momentum following June’s record figures in the balance-of-payments data.