Exports from South Korea surged 12.7% year-on-year to a record high of USD 65.95 billion in September 2025, sharply accelerating from a downwardly revised 1.2% increase in the previous month and far exceeding market expectations of a 7.2% gain, preliminary data showed. It was the strongest export growth since July 2024, driven by robust demand for semiconductors—the country’s top export item—which soared 22.0% year-on-year to a record USD 16.6 billion. Exports of cars rose 16.8%, while shipments of ships jumped 21.9%. Exports to China, South Korea’s largest trading partner, edged up 0.5%, marking the first increase in five months. Outbound shipments also grew significantly to the ASEAN region (+17.8%) and the EU (+19.3%). By contrast, exports to the US declined 1.4%, weighed down by the impact of Trump tariffs. At the end of July, the US announced a deal to impose a 15% tariff on South Korean goods starting in August, while tariffs on automobiles and auto parts remain at 25%.