Containers are stacked at a port in the southeastern city of Busan on Wednesday. (Yonhap) South Korea's monthly exports hit a fresh high by surpassing the $100 billion mark for the first time in June, amid the record-breaking performance of chips, data showed Wednesday.Outbound shipments surged 70.9 percent on-year to $102.25 billion in June, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources.Imports rose 30.1 percent on-year to $66.1 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of $36.15 billion.It also marked the first time that the monthly trade balance has surpassed $30 billion.The trade ministry said South Korea became the world's fourth nation to achieve the $100 billion milestone, following Germany, the United States and China.Exports of semiconductors nearly tripled to reach $44.82 billion, with monthly exports surpassing $40 billion for the first time on the back of surging demand for memory chips.Outbound shipments of computer products soared more than 300 percent to $5.41 billion as global tech companies expanded investment in artificial intelligence infrastructure, the ministry added.Exports of mobile devices also jumped 51.9 percent to $1.55 billion amid growing demand for new smartphones.The data showed automobile exports rising 5.8 percent to $6.71 billion following the stabilization of auto parts supplies.Outbound shipments of petroleum products moved up 49.8 percent to $5.59 billion on higher prices, while those of petrochemical goods rose 18.8 percent to $4.07 billion.Other major winners included ships, displays and steel products, whose exports moved up 12.9 percent, 37 percent and 9.6 percent, respectively.By destination, exports to China shot up 92.1 percent to $20 billion, driven by solid growth in semiconductors, petrochemical products, machinery and mobile devices.Exports to the United States also moved up 78.6 percent to $20 billion during the period, driven by expanding investment in AI servers.Outbound shipments to Southeast Asian nations also rose 86.6 percent to $18.3 billion, while those to the European Union increased 31.8 percent to $7.62 billion.Over the January-June period, exports also reached a record high, rising 48.4 percent from a year earlier to $496.7 billion."In a positive scenario, annual exports of 1 trillion won are not an unattainable target," said Kang Kam-chan, a senior trade official.Semiconductor exports shot up 163 percent from a year earlier in the first half."South Korea was able to post a record export performance in the first half on the back of robust semiconductor exports driven by demand for AI servers," Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan said in a release."In the second half, uncertainties are expected to persist, with factors including US tariff measures, oil price volatility and the possibility of a global economic slowdown," Kim added, noting South Korea will make efforts to address such challenges through close coordination with its trading partners. (Yonhap)