South Korea's exports jump 48% to $86.1bn on AI-powered semiconductors
South Korea just smashed its export record, with shipments jumping 48% in March 2026 to $86.1 billion.
The big driver? Huge global demand for AI-powered semiconductors, which saw exports soar by over 150%.
This marks the fastest export growth since the late 1980s, as memory chip prices and strong AI-related demand keep climbing.
South Korea posts $25.7bn trade surplus
The export surge gave South Korea's factories their strongest growth in more than four years, with semiconductors making up more than one-third of total exports.
Even with tensions in West Asia disrupting some trade routes and oil imports, South Korea still posted a $25.7 billion trade surplus for March, well up from February.
Plus, demand stayed strong from China, the US and Europe, showing that Korean tech is still very much in demand worldwide.