Top 10 firms take up over 60 pct of S. Korea's exports in Q3 amid chip boom

In the third quarter, South Korea's top 10 exporters accounted for 60.9% of the country's total outbound shipments, a significant increase from 40.5% a year earlier, according to data released by the Ministry of Data and Statistics. This surge in exports was primarily fueled by strong demand for semiconductors and other technology products. The country's exports reached a total of $318.6 billion, marking a remarkable 72.3% year-on-year increase.

The top 100 exporters contributed to 79.4% of South Korea's total exports, up from 67.9% in the same period last year. Among companies of various sizes, conglomerates saw their exports double to $248.6 billion, while medium-sized enterprises increased their exports by 12.8% to $36.9 billion. Small enterprises also experienced robust growth, with exports rising by 10.7% to $32.7 billion.

The mining and manufacturing sector saw a substantial surge in exports, growing by 82.8% to $291.5 billion. Within this sector, the electronics industry, particularly chip exports, experienced an 143.6% increase, reaching $206 billion. The wholesale and retail sector, on the other hand, saw a modest 5.1% increase in exports, totaling $20 billion.