[Young journalist Minkyeol Kim] South Korea set another record for the period in early October, remaining on track toward the long-dreamed-of $1 trillion (approximately 1,335 trillion won) in annual exports. Driven by strong semiconductor shipments, exports doubled from a year earlier.

According to the Korea Customs Service on the 12th, exports for October 1–10 (preliminary, customs-clearance basis) came to $26.1 billion, up 102.0% from the same period last year. This is the largest amount ever for the equivalent period. The number of working days in the period was 5.5, two more than the 3.5 days a year earlier. Adjusted for working days, average daily exports were $4.75 billion, up 28.5% and also a record for the period.

By item, semiconductor exports surged 170.9% to $12.2 billion, again a record for the period. 

Semiconductors accounted for 46.7% of total exports, up 11.9 percentage points from a year earlier.

Exports of other major items also rose, including petroleum products (45.6%), passenger cars (82.7%), steel products (49.4%), and wireless communication devices (62.6%). Ship exports fell 13.4%.

By country, exports to major markets including China (167.3%), the United States (159.9%), Vietnam (89.7%), Taiwan (2.6%), and the European Union (EU, 127.3%) increased. The top three destinations, China, the U.S., and Vietnam, accounted for 52.3% of exports.

Adding exports through October 10 to the cumulative total for January–September brings this year’s exports to $840.6 billion. Reaching $1 trillion in annual exports is therefore within sight. So far, only three countries, the United States, China, and Germany, have achieved $1 trillion in annual exports. South Korea has already far surpassed last year’s full-year export total ($709.3 billion).

The driving force behind Korea’s record-breaking exports is K-semiconductors. In September, semiconductor exports hit $60.3 billion, topping $60 billion in a single month for the first time ever.

Kang Gam-chan, Director General for Trade and Investment at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, said, “Reaching $1 trillion looks very likely, and interest has shifted to the timing. If we keep posting around $100 billion a month for the next two months, I expect we could reach it in late November or early December.”

Meanwhile, Korea’s imports for October 1–10 totaled $22.3 billion, up 65.5% year-on-year. By item, imports of crude oil (56.2%), semiconductors (66.7%), and gas (125.5%) rose, while imports of petroleum products fell 10.9%. Energy imports, including crude oil, gas, and coal, increased 64.8%, apparently reflecting higher crude oil import prices due to the situation in the Middle East.

With exports exceeding imports, the trade balance recorded a surplus of $3.8 billion.

▶원문 기사: K반도체 앞세운 한국, '꿈의 1조달러 수출' 향해 순항 (이코노미스트, 2026. 10. 12)

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