Particle.news
Download on the App Store
4 ARTICLES
·
last mo.

South Korea Logs Record Exports as Chip Boom Deepens Reliance on Top Firms

Shipments to the United States fell on tariff and subsidy headwinds, prompting faster growth in Southeast Asia and Latin America.

Containers are stacked at a port in the southeastern city of Busan, in this file photo taken Jan. 28, 2026. (Yonhap)
Image

Overview

  • Fourth-quarter exports reached $189.8 billion, up 8.4% year over year and the highest quarterly value on record.
  • Full-year exports rose 3.8% to $709.4 billion, surpassing $700 billion for the first time on the strength of semiconductors.
  • Exports by large companies climbed about 10% in Q4 as semiconductor shipments increased 9.1%, reflecting the AI-driven chip upcycle.
  • The top 10 exporters accounted for 39.0% of annual shipments (43.4% in Q4) and the top 100 for 67.1%, marking multi-year highs in concentration.
  • Exports to the United States declined 3.8% as EV subsidy cuts weighed on durable goods, while shipments to Southeast Asia rose 19.4% and to Central and South America jumped 32.2%.