South Korea’s exports rebounded in June, rising 4.3 percent from a year earlier and returning to growth after just one month. Despite escalating trade uncertainty stemming from the United States, the country posted record-high semiconductor exports, which helped lift overall performance.
According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy on July 1, South Korea’s total exports in June reached $59.8 billion. Although this June had 21 working days–0.5 days fewer than the 21.5 working days in June last year–average daily exports rose 6.8 percent to $2.85 billion, setting a new all-time high for the month of June.
The turnaround in exports was driven by continued strength in key categories, with six of the country’s 15 major export items posting growth. According to the ministry, computer exports totaled $1.3 billion in June, up 15.2 percent year-on-year. Ship exports surged 63 percent to $2.5 billion, while bio-health exports climbed 36.5 percent to $1.7 billion.
Semiconductors, South Korea’s top export item, recorded their highest-ever monthly export value. Semiconductor exports in June amounted to $14.97 billion, up 11.6 percent from the same month last year. Aside from a brief dip in February, when exports fell 3 percent year-on-year, semiconductors have posted positive growth for four consecutive months this year.
Despite facing uncertainty related to U.S. tariffs, the automotive and auto parts sectors performed relatively well. Auto exports reached $6.3 billion in June, up 2.3 percent year-on-year and marking the highest June figure on record. Auto parts exports rose 2.4 percent to $1.8 billion. While shipments to the U.S. slowed, a sharp increase in exports to Europe offset the decline. Outside the top 15 export categories, exports of agricultural, marine, and food products rose 7.7 percent to $1.03 billion, and cosmetics exports jumped 22 percent to $950 million — both setting new records for June.
However, a regional breakdown revealed the impact of tariffs imposed during the Trump administration. Exports to South Korea’s two largest markets, the U.S. and China, declined by 0.5 percent and 2.7 percent, respectively, to $11.24 billion and $10.42 billion. Shipments to Southeast Asia rose 2.1 percent to $9.76 billion, driven by demand for semiconductors, ships, and steel. Exports to the European Union jumped 14.7 percent from a year earlier to $5.8 billion.
Imports in June rose 3.3 percent year-on-year to $50.72 billion. Due to stable oil prices, energy imports fell 14.7 percent to $8.55 billion. The country recorded a trade surplus of $9.08 billion for the month.
In the first half of 2025, South Korea’s total exports reached $334.7 billion, down just 0.03 percent from the same period in 2024, which the government assessed as effectively flat. However, average daily exports for the first half rose 2.3 percent year-on-year to $2.56 billion. Imports for the same period declined 1.6 percent to $306.9 billion. The cumulative trade surplus for the first half stood at $27.8 billion, up $4.8 billion from the same period last year.
Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Ahn Duk-geun stated, “Despite unprecedented trade and geopolitical uncertainty, South Korea’s exports in the first half of the year held steady compared to last year,” adding, “In particular, exports in June, the month when the new administration was launched, marked the strongest performance ever for any June on record.”
