South Korea July exports rose 63.0% YoY to $99.0bn, the second-highest monthly
total after June’s $102.2bn. Imports increased 26.5% to $68.6bn, leaving a trade
surplus of $30.3bn. Semiconductor exports surged 179% YoY to $41.0bn, exceeding
$40bn for a second consecutive month, driven by strong storage-chip demand.
Exports to the US jumped 68.7% to $17.4bn, supported by AI data-center
investment from major tech firms. The trade minister said 19 of 20 major export
categories expanded, flagging meaningful export diversification.