Korea's Q2 current account surplus tops Germany, Japan combined on chip boom
Korea’s current account surplus exceeded the combined total of manufacturing powerhouses Germany and Japan in the second quarter of this year for the first time since comparable data for all three countries became available in 1996, data showed Sunday. Booming semiconductor exports have pushed the trade surplus to record highs, while expanding overseas investments have boosted dividend and…
Korea's current account surplus in the second quarter surpassed the combined total of Germany and Japan, marking a historic first since comparable data began in 1996. The surge in semiconductor exports has driven the trade surplus to record highs, while increased overseas investments have contributed to dividend and interest income.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) anticipates Korea's current account surplus to be the second-largest globally, trailing only China, this year, with the steepest increase among 190 countries. However, experts caution that a global slowdown in artificial intelligence (AI) investment or heightened chip exports from rivals could undermine these gains, emphasizing the importance of diversifying Korea's industrial base.
According to IMF data from the Bank of Korea (BOK), Korea achieved a current account surplus of $116.6 billion in Q2, placing second globally behind China, with Germany ranking third at $52.3 billion, followed by Japan at $50.6 billion.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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