South Korea's exports surge to record highs on AI chips and pharma growth

South Korea's exports rose 70.9% year‑on‑year in June, reaching $102.25 billion – the strongest monthly increase since October 1978. Semiconductor shipments jumped 199.5% to $44.8 billion, driven by a global AI investment boom, while computer sales rose 308.8%, steel products 9.6% and petroleum products 49.8%. Shipments to China and the United States surged 92.1% and 78.6% respectively, and to the European Union up 31.8%, delivering a record monthly trade surplus of $36.15 billion.

In 2025, South Korean pharmaceutical exports topped $10.44 billion, a 12.4% increase from the previous year and the highest total since records began in 1998. Production hit a new high of 33.8 trillion won, led by biopharmaceuticals and contract development and manufacturing organisations. Celltrion alone raised drug production 27.6% to exceed 3 trillion won. The surge boosted the sector’s trade surplus to $1.56 billion, the strongest on record.