South Korean Exports Surge Almost 94% as AI Chip Demand Reaches New Heights

2026, November 1

South Korea

South Korea recorded its strongest export growth in more than five decades, with October shipments increasing 93.7% year-on-year to a record $115.28 billion. Semiconductor exports rose an extraordinary 259.4% to $56.44 billion, driven by worldwide demand for artificial-intelligence infrastructure, advanced memory chips and computing equipment. Computer exports also increased sharply, reflecting the expansion of global data-centre investment.

The country exported $930 billion worth of goods during the first ten months of 2026 and is expected to surpass $1 trillion in annual exports during November. The figures demonstrate how the AI investment boom is reshaping international trade and strengthening South Korea's position in the global semiconductor industry. However, some of October's exceptional growth was also attributable to additional working days compared with the previous year.