What drove Korea’s record daily FX turnover in the third quarter?

The Bank of Korea attributed the increase to stronger FX trading associated with robust exports. The rise in combined exports and imports to $173.9 billion from $154.7 billion in the previous quarter reflected the stronger trade activity.

Why did the increase in Korea’s FX turnover slow in Q3?

The BOK said stronger export-related FX trading was partly offset by a decline in offshore investors’ stock transactions amid a stock-market correction. Foreign investors’ monthly equity trading averaged 1,154 trillion won in July and August, compared with 1,285 trillion won in the second quarter.

How did spot and derivatives trading contribute differently to Korea’s Q3 FX turnover?

Average daily spot FX turnover decreased 6.2 percent from the second quarter to $50.74 billion. Derivatives turnover moved in the opposite direction, increasing 5.9 percent to $71.26 billion.

Daily FX turnover hits new high in Q3: BOK

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Summary

Korean banks’ average daily foreign-exchange turnover reached a record $122.01 billion in the third quarter, during July-September, as trade-related transactions increased. The Bank of Korea said the quarterly figure set a record for the third consecutive quarter, though the increase slowed as lower offshore investors’ stock transactions partly offset stronger export-related FX trading. Spot turnover declined while derivatives trading rose.

Key Facts

Average daily FX turnover increased by $570 million, or 0.5 percent, from the second quarter.
Combined exports and imports rose to $173.9 billion in the third quarter from $154.7 billion three months earlier.
Foreign investors traded an average of 1,154 trillion won worth of equities per month in July and August, down from 1,285 trillion won per month in the second quarter.
Average daily spot FX turnover fell 6.2 percent quarter on quarter to $50.74 billion, while derivatives turnover rose 5.9 percent to $71.26 billion.

By Yonhap

Published Oct 30, 2026 12:37 pm KST

A clerk checks U.S. dollar and Japanese yen notes at a center of Hana Bank in Seoul, Oct. 19. Yonhap

Daily foreign exchange (FX) trading by banks in Korea rose slightly to reach a new high in the third quarter on strong trade-related transactions, central bank data showed Friday.

Average daily FX turnover, including derivatives trading, came to an average of $122.01 billion during the July-September period, up $570 million, or 0.5 percent, from the second quarter, according to the data from the Bank of Korea (BOK).

The quarterly figure has been renewing records for the third consecutive quarter since the first quarter of this year.

The BOK said the on-quarter increase slowed as a sharp increase in FX trading by robust exports was partly offset by a decrease in offshore investors' stock transactions amid a correction in the stock market.

Exports and imports rose to a combined $173.9 billion in the third quarter from $154.7 billion three months earlier, while foreigners traded 1,154 trillion won ($862.8 billion) worth of equities per month in July and August, down from a monthly average of 1,285 trillion won in the second quarter.

Average daily spot FX turnover fell 6.2 percent on-quarter to $50.74 billion in the third quarter, while derivatives trading rose 5.9 percent to $71.26 billion.

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