Containers for export are stacked at a port in Pyeongtaek, around sixty kilometers south of Seoul, South Korea. Photo by YONHAP / EPA
June 1 (Asia Today) -- South Korea's exports reached a monthly record in May, topping $80 billion for a third straight month as strong semiconductor shipments fueled by artificial intelligence investment drove overall trade growth.
Exports rose 53.2% from a year earlier to $87.75 billion in May, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said Monday. Imports increased 20.8% to $60.8 billion, producing a record trade surplus of $26.95 billion.
May marked the third consecutive month in which exports exceeded $80 billion, following $87.2 billion in March and $85.9 billion in April. Average daily exports also reached $4.28 billion, surpassing $4 billion for the first time.
Semiconductors led the increase, with chip exports jumping 169.4% from a year earlier to a record $37.16 billion. The ministry said expanding AI investment by major U.S. technology companies helped sustain higher memory chip prices.
