Semiconductor Exports Reach $22.1 Billion by 20th This Month... Sets New All-Time High

Korea Customs Service Announces Export and Import Figures for July 1–20
Total Exports Surge 52.3% to $54.9 Billion
Trade Surplus Reaches $12.2 Billion

Semiconductor exports have once again reached an all-time high. From July 1 to July 20, they increased by more than 180% compared to the same period last year, leading the overall growth in exports. Thanks to the strong performance in the semiconductor sector, total exports in July marked their highest record for any July to date.

According to the export and import statistics for July 1–20 released by the Korea Customs Service on July 21, total exports amounted to 54.9 billion dollars, up 52.3% from the same period last year. This surpasses the result from July 2024 (36.9 billion dollars), setting a new record for the month of July.

The Asia Business Daily DB

The number of working days from July 1 to 20 was 14.5, one day less than the same period last year. Taking this into account, the average daily export value rose by 62.9% to 3.79 billion dollars.

Semiconductors continued to show a strong export trend. From July 1 to 20, semiconductor exports reached 22.113 billion dollars, a 180.6% increase year-on-year. Exports of petroleum products (up 33.4%), steel products (up 11.1%), ships (up 70.8%), and computer peripherals (up 231.9%) also increased. In contrast, exports of passenger cars (down 10.6%) and auto parts (down 9.6%) declined. As a result, the share of semiconductors in total exports grew by 18.4 percentage points to 40.3% compared to the same period last year. By country, exports to all of the top ten major destinations increased, including China (up 94.1%), the United States (up 39.6%), Vietnam (up 82.4%), the European Union (EU, up 30.3%), and Taiwan (up 41.8%).

From July 1 to 20, imports totaled 42.7 billion dollars, a 20.0% increase from the same period last year. Imports of semiconductors (up 54.9%), crude oil (up 27.5%), semiconductor manufacturing equipment (up 56.9%), and gas (up 27.9%) increased, while imports of petroleum products (down 8.9%) and passenger cars (down 28.1%) declined. Imports of energy sources (crude oil, gas, coal) also increased by 27.4%. By country, imports from China (up 21.8%), the United States (up 17.1%), the EU (up 9.7%), Japan (up 14.6%), and Taiwan (up 45.7%) all rose.

During the same period, exports exceeded imports, resulting in a trade surplus of 12.2 billion dollars. As a result, the accumulated surplus from January 1 to July 20 this year reached 149.9 billion dollars.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.