Why did Korea’s exports jump so sharply in the first 10 days of September 2026?

The main driver was semiconductor shipments, which soared 270 percent to $16.5 billion. The article says the gains came amid the global AI boom, and other export items such as petroleum products, automobiles, ships, and steel also rose.

How much was Korea’s trade surplus in the first 10 days of September 2026?

The trade surplus came to $10.4 billion in the Sept. 1-10 period. That followed imports of $24.6 billion against exports of $35 billion, both reported by the Korea Customs Service.

Which markets bought more of Korea’s exports in the first 10 days of September 2026?

Exports to China doubled to $7.95 billion, and shipments to the United States increased 137.5 percent to $7 billion. The article also says total exports from Jan. 1 through Thursday reached $728.5 billion.

Exports up 83% in first 10 days of September on chips

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Summary

Korea’s exports surged nearly 83 percent year-on-year in the first 10 days of September, driven by semiconductor shipments amid the global AI boom. Outbound shipments reached $35 billion in the Sept. 1-10 period, the highest level for the first 10 days of September on record. Imports rose 20.7 percent to $24.6 billion, leaving a trade surplus of $10.4 billion. Semiconductors jumped 270 percent to $16.5 billion and also set a fresh record for the period.

Key Facts

Outbound shipments reached $35 billion in the Sept. 1-10 period, according to Korea Customs Service data released Friday.
Imports rose 20.7 percent year-on-year to $24.6 billion over the same period.
Semiconductor exports surged 270 percent to $16.5 billion, setting a fresh high for the first 10 days of September.
Exports to China doubled to $7.95 billion, while shipments to the United States increased 137.5 percent to $7 billion.
Korea’s total exports from Jan. 1 through Thursday reached $728.5 billion, up 54.1 percent from a year earlier, and the trade surplus for the year so far was $212.9 billion.

By Yonhap

Published Sep 11, 2026 9:34 am KST

Containers are stacked at a port in the southeastern city of Busan, Sept. 1. Yonhap

Korea's exports surged nearly 83 percent year-on-year in the first 10 days of September, customs data showed Friday, driven by robust semiconductor shipments amid the global artificial intelligence (AI) boom.

Outbound shipments reached $35 billion in the Sept. 1-10 period, according to the numbers released by the Korea Customs Service.

The customs agency said exports reached the highest level for the first 10 days of September on record.

Imports rose 20.7 percent year-on-year to $24.6 billion over the cited period, resulting in a trade surplus of $10.4 billion.

Semiconductors led the overall gains, soaring 270 percent to $16.5 billion, also setting a fresh high for the period.

Outbound shipments of petroleum products jumped 57 percent to $1.87 billion, while automobile exports increased 10 percent to $1.7 billion.

Exports of ships and steel products also shot up 66.8 percent and 10.3 percent, respectively, the report showed.

By destination, exports to China doubled to $7.95 billion, while those to the United States increased 137.5 percent to $7 billion.

The country's total exports from Jan. 1 through Thursday came to $728.5 billion, climbing 54.1 percent from a year earlier. The trade surplus reached $212.9 billion so far in 2026.

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