South Korea’s Exports Surge 40% on Global Semiconductor Demand
South Korea's exports soared to a record $21.4 billion in early February, marking a 44.4% year-over-year increase. The surge is driven by unprecedented global demand for semiconductors, fueled by the AI boom. Semiconductor exports alone jumped 137.6% to $6.7 billion, accounting for 31.5% of total exports.
Petroleum products and wireless communication devices also saw significant growth, rising 40.1% and 27.9% respectively. Meanwhile, passenger car and ship exports declined by 2.6% and 29%. The data underscores South Korea's pivotal role in the global tech supply chain as AI adoption accelerates worldwide.