S. Korea’s exports hit all-time high of US$709.7 bln in 2025

SEOUL, Jan 1 (Yonhap/APP): South Korea’s exports reached an all-time high of US$709.7 billion last year, surpassing the landmark $700 billion mark for the first time, government data showed Thursday.

Annual exports rose 3.8 percent from a year earlier, with semiconductor exports posting a record-high of $173.4 billion on the back of the growth of artificial intelligence (AI), according to the data compiled by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources.

Imports edged down 0.02 percent on-year to $631.7 billion in 2025, resulting in a trade surplus of $78 billion.

In December, outbound shipments surged 13.4 percent from a year earlier, extending the winning streak to 11 consecutive months.