South Korea exports jump 93.7% as AI chip shipments surge
AI · Monday, November 2, 2026 · 10 sources

South Korea exports jump 93.7% as AI chip shipments surge

South Korea’s exports rose 93.7% year on year in October to €106.2 billion (US$115.28 billion), their strongest increase since January 1974. The trade ministry said semiconductor exports climbed 259.4% as global investment in AI infrastructure supported demand; the holiday calendar also meant more working days than a year earlier.

Bottom line — Trade minister Kim Jung-kwan said South Korea is on course to exceed €920.9 billion (US$1 trillion) in annual exports within November.

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  1. The trade ministry put semiconductor exports at €52.0 billion (US$56.44 billion) for October.

  2. Computer sales rose 496.6%, with the trade ministry citing demand for servers supporting AI services.

  3. Exports to Europe increased 56.4%, while shipments to China rose 133.6%, according to government data.

  4. Imports rose 36% to €66.9 billion (US$72.78 billion), the biggest annual increase since January 2022.

  5. South Korea’s October trade surplus was €39.1 billion (US$42.50 billion), below September’s record €45.9 billion (US$49.97 billion).

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dstld. Your daily news summary designed to surface the news that matters from a European perspective. Curated by humans, summarized by AI - always with links back to the original reporting.

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Last generated: Nov 2, 7:18 PM UTC by wreetco

dstld. Your daily news summary designed to surface the news that matters from a European perspective. Curated by humans, summarized by AI - always with links back to the original reporting.

Links · Contact
Popular topics · WorldEuropeGamesAI
Last generated: Nov 2, 7:18 PM UTC by wreetco