Seoul: South Korea's exports soared 86 percent from a year earlier in the first 10 days of June, data showed Thursday, marking a new record high driven by strong semiconductor shipments. Outbound shipments reached $28.6 billion during this period, compared to $15.4 billion in the same timeframe last year, according to data from the Korea Customs Service.

According to Yonhap News Agency, this figure represents the highest export value ever recorded for a 10-day period, surpassing the previous record of $25.2 billion set in April 2026. When adjusted for the number of working days, the daily average export volume increased by 46.1 percent. Imports also rose by 35.6 percent on-year to $23.4 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of $5.28 billion.

By sector, semiconductor exports more than tripled to $11 billion, fueled by the global artificial intelligence boom. Chips made up 38.7 percent of total exports, an increase of 15.1 percentage points from the previous year. Exports of petroleum products increased by 68.7 percent to $1.93 billion, while automobile shipments rose by 25.4 percent to $1.62 billion.

In terms of destination, exports to China doubled to $6.18 billion, and those to the United States increased by 54.4 percent to $4.53 billion. Exports to Vietnam and the European Union also saw significant growth, rising by 102 percent and 46 percent, respectively, during the period.