Seoul: South Korea posted a record current account surplus for any September, buoyed by solid exports and increased dividend income, the central bank said Thursday. The country's current account surplus amounted to US$13.47 billion in September, a significant increase from $9.15 billion in the previous month, according to data from the Bank of Korea (BOK).

According to Yonhap News Agency, this figure represents the largest surplus ever recorded for any September and stands as the second-largest monthly figure overall. The data underscores South Korea's ongoing economic resilience, marking the 29th consecutive month of surplus since May 2023.

During the first nine months of this year, the cumulative surplus reached $82.77 billion, a notable rise compared to $67.23 billion during the same period last year, as reported by the BOK. The goods account achieved a $14.24 billion surplus in September, the second-largest monthly figure on record following a $14.52 billion surplus in September 2017. This was driven by a 9.6 percent year-on-year increase in exports, totaling $67.27 billion, fueled by robust shipments of semiconductors and automobiles.

In contrast, imports rose by 4.5 percent to $53.03 billion in September. The services account, however, recorded a $3.32 billion deficit, mainly attributed to a surge in overseas travel demand. Meanwhile, the primary income account, which encompasses wages of foreign workers, as well as dividend and interest income from abroad, logged a $2.96 billion surplus in September, as indicated by the data.