How much did South Korea’s exports rise to this year, and what record did they beat?

Cumulative exports reached $709.4 billion as of 1 p.m. Saturday. That surpassed the previous annual high of $709.3 billion set in 2025.

Why did the customs chief say South Korea’s exports kept rising despite global uncertainty?

The report pointed to ongoing growth even as protectionism increased, global supply chains were being restructured and tensions in the Middle East continued. The customs chief said those conditions had not stopped exports from showing remarkable growth.

What drove the surge in South Korea’s exports this year?

Semiconductor exports rose 169.6 percent in the first eight months from a year earlier. Other major export items, including computer peripherals, petroleum products, wireless communication devices and ships, also increased sharply.

Lee touts record-high exports after surpassing 2025 annual record

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Summary

President Lee Jae Myung on Saturday said South Korea’s cumulative exports had already surpassed last year’s annual record, citing a customs report. As of 1 p.m. Saturday, exports reached $709.4 billion, above the 2025 record of $709.3 billion. The Korea Customs Service chief said exports were rising despite protectionism, global supply-chain restructuring and Middle East instability, and could reach $1 trillion in early December. Semiconductor exports jumped 169.6 percent in the first eight months, helping lift the Bank of Korea’s 2026 growth forecast to 3.3 percent.

Key Facts

Cumulative exports reached $709.4 billion as of 1 p.m. Saturday, topping the previous annual record of $709.3 billion set in 2025.
The customs chief said annual exports could reach $1 trillion around early December if the current trend continues.
Semiconductor exports rose 169.6 percent from a year earlier during the first eight months of this year.
Exports of other major products, including computer peripherals, petroleum products, wireless communication devices and ships, also grew markedly.
The Bank of Korea raised its 2026 growth forecast for South Korea to 3.3 percent, citing strong chip exports driven by steady demand for AI-related infrastructure.

By Yonhap

Published Sep 5, 2026 3:41 pm KST
Updated Sep 5, 2026 8:55 pm KST

Containers are stacked at a port in the southeastern port city of Busan, Aug. 6. Yonhap

President Lee Jae Myung on Saturday shared on social media a report from the customs chief showing that South Korea's cumulative exports so far this year had already surpassed last year's annual record.

Lee said in a post on X, formerly Twitter, titled "A report from Korea Customs Service Commissioner Lee Jong-wook," that cumulative exports had reached $709.4 billion as of 1 p.m. Saturday, exceeding the previous annual record of $709.3 billion set in 2025.

"Despite the uncertain trade environment, including growing protectionism, the restructuring of global supply chains and the situation in the Middle East, our exports continue to show remarkable growth," the agency chief said in the report.

"If the current trend of solid exports continues, annual exports are expected to reach $1 trillion around early December," he said, noting that the United States, China and Germany have so far recorded annual exports of $1 trillion or more.

During the first eight months of this year, semiconductor exports rose 169.6 percent from a year earlier, while exports of other major products, including computer peripherals, petroleum products, wireless communication devices and ships, also grew markedly, government data showed.

The Bank of Korea has raised its 2026 growth forecast for South Korea to 3.3 percent, citing strong chip exports driven by steady demand for artificial intelligence-related infrastructure.

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