Seoul: South Korea's monthly exports surpassed the US$80 billion threshold for the first time this March, experiencing a nearly 50 percent surge compared to the previous year, largely driven by record-breaking semiconductor shipments, as revealed by government data on Wednesday.

According to Yonhap News Agency, outbound shipments reached $86.13 billion last month, marking a 48.3 percent increase from the previous year, based on data compiled by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources. This figure not only sets a new record but also significantly exceeds the prior monthly high of $69.5 billion recorded in December 2025.

Imports increased by 13.2 percent on-year to $60.4 billion in March, resulting in a trade surplus of $25.74 billion. Notably, semiconductor exports soared by 151.4 percent year-on-year to an unprecedented $32.83 billion in March, surpassing the $30 billion mark for the first time. The ministry attributed the impressive performance of the semiconductor sector to elevated memory chip prices and sustained global demand, driven by significant investments in artificial intelligence (AI) data centers.

Automobile exports rose by 2.2 percent year-on-year to $6.37 billion, as robust demand for eco-friendly models, including electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid cars, helped counterbalance shipment disruptions caused by the Middle Eastern crisis. Meanwhile, outbound shipments of petroleum products surged by 54.9 percent to $5.1 billion in March, reflecting a sharp increase in line with global oil price hikes triggered by the Iran war.

Despite the overall growth, the government-imposed export restrictions on fuel items such as gasoline and diesel on March 13 led to a 5 percent and 11 percent decrease, respectively, compared to the same period last year, as stated by the ministry. In terms of destinations, exports to China climbed 64 percent year-on-year to $16.5 billion last month, marking the fifth consecutive month of growth, driven by strong demand for semiconductors, petrochemical products, machinery, and computers.

Exports to the United States rose by 47.1 percent to $16.34 billion, fueled by robust demand for chips and computers. Shipments to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) grew by 34.3 percent to $13.75 billion, while exports to the European Union increased by 19.3 percent to $7.47 billion. However, exports to the Middle East experienced a significant decline, dropping 49.1 percent year-on-year to $900 million, likely due to the ongoing conflict in the region.