National

South Korea April exports rise 48.0% y/y, as chip boom continues

By Cynthia Kim Reuters
FILE PHOTO: A drone view of used cars that are mostly exported to countries in the Middle East remain parked at a used-car export complex in Incheon, South Korea, March 16, 2026. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A drone view of used cars that are mostly exported to countries in the Middle East remain parked at a used-car export complex in Incheon, South Korea, March 16, 2026. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY/File Photo Kim Hong-Ji Reuters

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SEOUL - South Korean exports rose for an 11th month in April, beating forecasts, as the global appetite for artificial intelligence infrastructure boosted semiconductor sales to offset jitters from the Middle East conflict.

Exports from Asia's fourth-largest economy, a bellwether for global trade, jumped 48.0% from a year earlier, higher than a median 45.3% increase forecast in a Reuters poll.

Imports increased 16.7% in April from a year ago, also beating a 14.5% gain tipped in the poll.

The trade figures land just days after chip giants Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix reported blockbuster quarterly profits, in a sign the chip crunch is helping the export-led economy to weather the downside risks stemming from the ongoing conflict involving Iran.

The preliminary trade surplus was at $23.77 billion.

(Reporting by Cynthia Kim; Editing by Christian Schmollinger)

Copyright Reuters or USA Today Network via Reuters Connect.

This story was originally published April 30, 2026 at 8:36 PM.

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