On June 1, 2026, South Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources reported a remarkable increase in exports, reaching $87.8 billion in May, which is a 53% rise compared to the same month last year. This achievement is attributed mainly to a supercycle in the semiconductor industry, buoyed by global investments in artificial intelligence infrastructure.

The three-month consecutive performance of exports above $80 billion indicates a strong recovery and persistent demand, particularly for semiconductor products, which contributed significantly to this surge. Notably, South Korea's semiconductor exports soared 169.4% year-on-year to a record $37.2 billion in May.

Detailed figures reveal that exports of D-RAMs increased by 369.8% to $18.6 billion, while NAND flash memory shipments rose 206.8% to $1.7 billion. Additionally, computer exports surged by 290.7% to $4.18 billion, reflecting increased demand for solid-state drives used in AI servers.

Imports also rose, climbing 20.8% to $60.8 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of approximately $26.95 billion. The total trade surplus for the first five months of the year smashed previous records, reaching $101.9 billion, surpassing the annual record of $95.2 billion set in 2017.

While the overall export landscape looks promising, certain sectors faced challenges. Auto exports fell 5.9% due to disruptions in supply chains, exacerbated by U.S. tariffs and fewer working days. Metal and machinery exports also showed declines, by 2.1% and 6.3% respectively.

Regional performance indicated strong demand from China, where exports rose 80.9% to $18.9 billion, while shipments to the United States increased 59.1% to $15.97 billion.

Overall, South Korea's robust export figures reinforce the nation's position as a leader in the global supply chain, particularly within high-tech industries, while also preparing to navigate potential challenges from international trade tensions in the upcoming months.