South Korea May Exports Hit Record $87.75 Billion, Driven by Chip Surge

According to data from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE), driven by robust semiconductor demand fueled by the artificial intelligence (AI) boom, South Korea's exports in May surged 53.2% year-on-year to a record-breaking $87.75 billion. This figure not only set a new historical peak for single-month exports but also surpassed the previous record of $87.2 billion set in March of this year.

Semiconductors were undoubtedly the absolute powerhouse behind this impressive performance. In May, South Korea's semiconductor exports skyrocketed by 169.4% year-on-year, reaching $37.16 billion, shattering the previous all-time high of $32.8 billion set in March.

This marks the third consecutive month that the country's chip exports have exceeded the $30 billion mark, as well as the 14th straight month of setting new records for the same month's exports. Against the backdrop of sustained global investment in AI infrastructure, semiconductors have not only firmly secured their position as the top export category but have also become the core engine driving the growth of South Korea's overall foreign trade.

In terms of export destinations, the explosive demand for chips directly fueled robust growth in major markets:

Exports to China: Surged 80.9% year-on-year to $18.9 billion. Among these, semiconductor exports achieved triple-digit high-speed growth.

Exports to the US: Rose 59.1% year-on-year to $15.97 billion. Beyond semiconductors, exports of computers and electrical equipment also provided strong support.