Seoul: South Korea's exports increased by 3.6 percent in October compared to the previous year, marking the fifth consecutive month of growth. This rise occurred despite the impact of U.S. tariffs, driven by strong demand for semiconductors, as revealed by government data.
According to Yonhap News Agency, outbound shipments totaled US$59.57 billion last month, based on data from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources. Meanwhile, imports fell by 1.5 percent year-on-year to $53.52 billion, leading to a trade surplus of $6.06 billion. Semiconductor exports surged by 25.4 percent year-on-year to $15.73 billion, setting a record for the highest October performance in this sector. However, exports to the U.S. declined by 16.2 percent year-on-year to $8.71 billion due to the effects of tariffs.