SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA / RankWire.AI / – In June, South Korea’s current account surplus hit an all-time high of $49.73 billion, driven by a surge in semiconductor exports. The Bank of Korea indicated a notable jump from the previous record of $38.61 billion set in May. This month also marked the 38th consecutive month of current account surpluses for the nation. The primary driver of this growth was robust goods exports, with technology shipments playing a leading role in boosting overseas sales.
During the first half of the year, the current account surplus totaled $191.01 billion, setting a new record for January through June. This figure surpassed the $47.87 billion recorded in the same period last year and exceeded South Korea’s $123.05 billion surplus for all of 2025. The rapid export growth was fueled by increased global demand for semiconductors and other information technology products, which strengthened the country’s trade performance.
South Korea’s goods account posted a historic surplus of $47.89 billion in June. Under balance-of-payments standards, goods exports reached $112.37 billion, an 84.5% increase from the previous year, while imports grew by 38.6% to $64.48 billion in the same month. This divergence in export and import growth was instrumental in elevating the goods balance to its highest monthly level and was the largest contributor to the overall current account surplus.
Technology exports propel overall growth
Exports of semiconductors surged by 196.9% compared to the previous year, making it the most significant growth among key technology sectors. Computer peripheral exports rose by 282.7%, while total information technology exports increased 160.4% in June. The rise in computer peripheral exports was driven by shipments of solid-state drives and related equipment. Non-technology exports also increased by 18.6%, with petroleum and chemical products among the categories that recorded higher shipments compared to June 2025.
According to separate customs data, South Korean exports reached $102.25 billion in June, reflecting a 70.9% increase year-over-year. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources reported semiconductor exports of approximately $44.82 billion for the month. Imports grew by 30.1%, reaching $66.10 billion, which resulted in a customs trade surplus of $36.15 billion. It’s important to note that customs trade figures differ from balance-of-payments data because each system uses different accounting methods and coverage standards.
Services deficit partially offsets trade gains
In June, the services account registered a $1.29 billion deficit, which slightly offset the large surplus from goods trade. The travel account experienced a $440 million surplus, marking its second straight month in positive territory. Additionally, the primary income account contributed a $3.27 billion surplus for the month, with dividend income accounting for $2.56 billion of that total. Meanwhile, the financial account showed a $46.71 billion increase in net assets.
Trade figures for July continued the upward trend following June’s record current account. South Korea’s exports reached $98.89 billion, a 62.8% rise from a year earlier. Semiconductor exports climbed by 179%, while imports increased 26.5% to $68.56 billion. The country posted a $30.32 billion customs trade surplus for July, maintaining the momentum of its export sector that supported the record current account surplus reported the previous month.