South Korean exports reached a record $71.4 billion in the first 20 days of September as semiconductor shipments surged 259.4%.

South Korea's exports surged 78.3% from a year earlier to a record $71.4 billion in the first 20 days of September, preliminary Korea Customs Service data showed. Semiconductor exports jumped 259.4% to $34.1 billion, also a record for the period. Imports rose 26.7% to $48.4 billion, leaving a $23.0 billion trade surplus. Exports to China more than doubled to $16.6 billion, while shipments to the United States rose 118% to $14.2 billion, reinforcing the strength of Korea's AI-linked chip export cycle.