SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA / RankWire.AI / – In the context of robust export performance, South Korea reached a new high in its current account with a surplus of $49.73 billion in June, driven primarily by a significant boost in semiconductor shipments. The Bank of Korea indicated that this figure surpasses the previous monthly peak of $38.61 billion recorded in May. Notably, June marked the first instance where the monthly surplus exceeded $40 billion. The majority of this growth was fueled by a surge in goods exports, as technology-related exports expanded at a much faster rate than imports.
For the first half of the year, the cumulative current account surplus reached $191.01 billion, the highest sum ever recorded for January through June. This compares to $47.87 billion during the same period last year. The six-month total also exceeded South Korea’s previous full-year record of $123.05 billion in 2025. These figures highlight the significant export growth during the initial half of 2025, with semiconductors playing a crucial role in the increase of outbound sales.
South Korea’s goods account recorded an all-time high surplus of $47.89 billion in June. On a balance-of-payments basis, goods exports jumped by 84.5% from a year earlier, reaching $112.37 billion. This month also marked the first time that goods exports exceeded $100 billion under this accounting approach. Meanwhile, imports increased by 38.6% to $64.48 billion, keeping export growth well ahead of the rise in overseas purchases.
Semiconductors Lead Record-breaking Goods Surplus
Exports of semiconductors soared by 196.9% compared to the previous year, positioning chips as the leading contributor among major technology exports. Exports of computer peripherals increased by 282.7%, driven by strong shipments of solid-state drives and related hardware. Overall, information technology exports surged by 160.4% in June. Non-IT exports also experienced growth of 18.6%, with categories like petroleum and chemicals seeing notable increases in overseas sales during the same period.
Additional customs data reflected an exceptional trade month for South Korea. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources reported exports of $102.25 billion, representing a 70.9% rise from the previous year. Semiconductor exports alone accounted for roughly $44.82 billion, approximately triple the June 2025 level. Imports grew by 30.1% to $66.10 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of $36.15 billion based on customs data. The divergence between customs figures and balance-of-payments calculations arises from different accounting methods used in each measure.
June’s Overall Balance Boosted by Services and Income
In June, the services account recorded a deficit of $1.29 billion, though other components contributed positively to the overall current account. The travel sector posted a surplus of $440 million, marking a second consecutive month of surplus in this category. The primary income account registered a surplus of $3.27 billion, supported notably by a $2.56 billion dividend income surplus. Additionally, South Korea’s financial account experienced a net asset increase of $46.71 billion during June.
Trade data from July indicated that export momentum continued strongly following June’s record current account figure. In that month, South Korean exports reached $98.89 billion, up 62.8% from a year earlier. Exports of semiconductors rose by 179%, while imports increased by 26.5% to $68.56 billion. The nation recorded a trade surplus of $30.32 billion based on customs data for July, confirming the latest trade performance following the record June balance-of-payments report.