반도체 월 수출액 467억달러 사상 최대…8월 수출 983억달러 역대 3위

South Korea's semiconductor exports reached a record $467 billion last month, marking the highest single-month total in history. The monthly export figure surged 68.7% compared to the same month last year, reaching $983.5 million. This places South Korea in third place in terms of total monthly exports. The rankings have fluctuated monthly, with the U.S. leading at $1,020 million in June and second place going to July with $990 million.

Semiconductor exports surpassed $466.5 million in the previous year's same period, setting the new record for monthly shipments. June's figure was $448 million (second place), followed by $410 million in July (third place). Industry officials noted that the surge in demand for AI infrastructure from tech giants such as Google and Amazon has contributed to the record-breaking performance.

Over the past three months, semiconductor exports have consistently exceeded $400 million. South Korean imports in the same period rose by 22.5% year-over-year to $635.1 million, while the overall trade balance for August showed a surplus of $347.5 million, a 283.4 million dollar increase compared to the previous year. For the first eight months of the year, Korea posted a trade surplus of $202.5 billion, a 1,622 billion dollar jump compared to the same period last year.

Industry Minister Kim Jong-gwan praised the semiconductor export boom, noting that South Korea's overall export base is expanding despite rising trade uncertainties caused by U.S. protectionist policies, global supply chain reshaping, and geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.