South Korea’s exports rose 60.4% year on year to US$62 billion in the first 20 days of June, led by semiconductor shipments. The Korea Customs Service, the country’s customs agency, released data on June 22. The total was a record for the period.

Imports climbed 23.2% to US$44.5 billion, leaving a US$17 billion trade surplus. Semiconductor exports nearly tripled to US$25.5 billion and made up 41.2% of total shipments.

Exports to China jumped 86.9% to US$13 billion, while shipments to the US rose 53.9% to US$11.4 billion.

Separate memory-market reports said tighter DRAM and NAND supply is being driven by AI server and high-bandwidth memory, or HBM, demand.

Trade policy remains a risk. An Information Technology and Innovation Foundation analysis said tighter US controls on China could divert some demand to South Korean memory suppliers. However, broader extraterritorial rules could limit that upside.

🔗 Source: Yonhap

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