How much was South Korea’s current account surplus in September, and how did it compare with previous records?

The surplus was $61.46 billion, up from $46.11 billion in August and $14.22 billion in September a year earlier. It surpassed the previous monthly record of $49.73 billion, set in June.

What drove South Korea’s record goods account surplus in September?

The goods account recorded a $62.75 billion surplus as exports rose 92.4 percent year on year to $130.72 billion. Imports also increased, rising 29.4 percent to $67.97 billion.

Which components of South Korea’s current account were in deficit in September, and why did the services deficit widen?

The services account had a $3.35 billion deficit, compared with $1.68 billion the previous month, as the travel deficit and intellectual property-related payments increased. The secondary income account recorded a $590 million deficit.

S. Korea posts record high current account surplus of over $60 bil. in Sept. on chip supercycle

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Summary

South Korea recorded a $61.46 billion current account surplus in September, the largest monthly total on record, as semiconductor exports strengthened. The surplus rose from $46.11 billion in August and $14.22 billion a year earlier. The goods account posted a record surplus, while the services and secondary income accounts remained in deficit. The surplus for the first nine months of the year reached $340.66 billion.

Key Facts

The September surplus exceeded the previous monthly record of $49.73 billion set in June.
The current account had remained in surplus every month since May 2023, a 41-month streak as reported in the article.
The goods account surplus was $62.75 billion, with exports up 92.4 percent year on year to $130.72 billion and imports up 29.4 percent to $67.97 billion.
The primary income account recorded a $2.65 billion surplus following an increase in equity income.
The services account deficit widened to $3.35 billion from $1.68 billion in the previous month, amid a larger travel deficit and intellectual property-related payments; the secondary income account deficit was $590 million.

By Yonhap

Published Nov 5, 2026 8:16 am KST

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

South Korea posted an all-time high current account surplus of over $60 billion won in September on strong exports of semiconductors, central bank data showed Thursday.

The current account surplus totaled $61.46 billion in September, up from $46.11 billion the previous month, according to the data from the Bank of Korea (BOK).

It marked the largest monthly current account surplus ever, renewing the previous record of $49.73 billion set in June.

Compared with the same month a year earlier, the figure surged from $14.22 billion.

For the first nine months of the year, the current account surplus totaled a cumulative $340.66 billion, trebling from $83.89 billion recorded over the same period last year.

South Korea has reported a current account surplus every month since May 2023, making August the 41st consecutive month the balance has remained in the black.

In 2025, the country posted its largest annual surplus on record at $123.05 billion, exceeding the previous high of $105.1 billion set in 2015.

The BOK said the goods account posted a record surplus of $62.75 billion in September, as exports shot up 92.4 percent on-year to $130.72 billion in the month, while imports rose 29.4 percent to $67.97 billion.

The primary income account logged a $2.65 billion surplus following an increase in equity income.

The services account recorded a deficit of $3.35 billion in September, widening the loss from the previous month's $1.68 billion due to the increasing travel deficit and intellectual property-related payments.

The secondary income account recorded a $590 million deficit.

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