South Korea Posts Record Current Account Surplus, Surpassing $60B in Sept.
In September, South Korea’s current account surplus surpassed $60 billion for the first time in history, driven by strong exports centered on semiconductors. As the surge in semiconductor exports was compounded by the concentration of deliveries at the end of the quarter, both the goods account and
In September 2026, South Korea achieved a record-breaking current account surplus of $61.46 billion, shattering the previous all-time high of $49.73 billion set in June. This surplus surpassed the previous month's record of $46.11 billion and marked a significant increase of $15.35 billion compared to the same period last year. The surge in semiconductor exports was a major factor behind the record surplus, with exports jumping by 92.4% compared to the same month last year, reaching $130.72 billion.
Notably, IT products, especially semiconductors, saw a massive 195.8% surge in exports, driving the overall export growth. The goods account surplus also hit an all-time high of $62.75 billion, with semiconductor exports growing by an impressive 260.3% compared to last year. While imports increased by 29.4% compared to the previous year, the surplus in the financial account was particularly significant, with net assets increasing by $54.34 billion, the highest increase on record.
The services account, however, recorded a deficit of $3.35 billion. Looking ahead, the Bank of Korea anticipates the current account surplus to break the monthly record again in December and even expects South Korea to surpass $1 trillion in exports by November.
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