Overview
- Outbound shipments for Feb. 1–20 rose 23.5% year over year to $43.5 billion, a new 20‑day high, according to Korea Customs Service data.
- Semiconductor exports jumped 134.1% to $15.1 billion and accounted for 34.7% of total exports as AI demand strengthened.
- Imports increased 11.7% to $38.6 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of $4.9 billion for the period.
- The daily average of exports climbed 47.3% from a year earlier with only 13 working days in the span.
- Exports to China rose 30.8% to $8.7 billion and to the United States 21.9% to $8.0 billion despite tariff measures, while autos fell 26.6% and petroleum products and vessels posted gains.