Spots

South Korean exports seen rising for 16th month on solid AI chip demand

Exports from Asia's fourth-largest economy, a bellwether for global trade, were forecast to have risen 62.0% this month from a year earlier, after ⁠rising 68.7% in August, a median forecast of 18 economists showed.

The growth would be the slowest in four

The growth would be the slowest in four months, but analysts said demand remained robust and that calendar effects likely skewed the headline figure.

September has 21.5 working days, down from 24

September has 21.5 working days, down from 24 days a year earlier, because the Chuseok holidays fell in September this year and in October last year.

In the first 20 days of this month

In the first 20 days of this month before the Chuseok holidays, exports rose 78.3% to a record, as semiconductor sales increased 259.4%. Measured by working day, exports ‌were ⁠up 89.8% on average.

"The boom in semiconductor exports will persist as

"The boom in semiconductor exports will persist as increasing trends in AI hyper-scaler investments continue," said An Ki-tae, an economist at NH Investment Securities.

Exports have risen steadily since June 2025, riding

Exports have risen steadily since June 2025, riding the global boom in AI investments, and posted double-digit annual growth rates ⁠since December. Growth peaked in June at 70.4%, the strongest pace in nearly half a century. Calls for a slowdown in AI development have grown recently among industry leaders over worries about its dangers. In ⁠September, imports were projected to have risen 21.5%, after 22.4% growth in August.

The median forecast was for a record monthly

The median forecast was for a record monthly trade surplus of $38.15 billion, up from $34.79 billion ⁠in the previous month. South Korea is scheduled to report its trade figures for September on Thursday, October 1, at 9 a.m. (0000 GMT).

News

South Korean exports seen rising for 16th month on solid AI chip demand

Exports from Asia's fourth-largest economy, a bellwether for global trade, were forecast to have risen 62.0% this month from a year earlier, after ⁠rising 68.7% in August, a median forecast of 18 economists showed.

@spots #asia
Source: Tuoi Tre News
See more like this