(LEAD) Exports up 45.3 pct in 1st 10 days of Aug. on chips

In the first ten days of August, South Korea's exports surged by an impressive 45.3 percent compared to the same period last year, according to data released by the Korea Customs Service. This surge was primarily driven by robust global demand for memory chips, which contributed significantly to the export growth. The country's outbound shipments reached a record high of US$21.3 billion, up from $14.6 billion in the corresponding period of 2025.

The export of chips surged 155.4 percent to $9.95 billion, accounting for 46.8 percent of the total exports. This marked a 20.1 percentage point increase from a year earlier and highlighted the ongoing global artificial intelligence (AI) boom. Petroleum products also saw a substantial increase, with exports rising 65.3 percent to $1.99 billion. However, automobile exports dropped sharply by 80.9 percent to $182 million.

The export figures to key destinations were as follows: China's share more than doubled to $6.7 billion, while exports to Vietnam increased by 45.4 percent to $2.39 billion. Exports to the United States, a key trading partner, remained steady at $2 billion, marking a negligible decrease of 0.2 percent. Cumulative exports for the year so far have reached $616.3 billion, reflecting a 50.3 percent year-on-year growth. The country's trade surplus for the same period stood at $1.8 billion.