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AI Boom Fuels South Korean Exports Past Forecasts
1 May
Summary
- South Korean exports grew 48.0% in April, exceeding expectations.
- Surging semiconductor sales driven by AI infrastructure boosted exports.
- Trade surplus reached $23.77 billion, reflecting strong economic performance.

South Korea's exports experienced a significant surge in April, climbing 48.0% year-on-year and extending a streak of growth to eleven consecutive months. This robust performance exceeded the 45.3% increase anticipated by economists.
The surge was primarily propelled by the burgeoning global demand for artificial intelligence infrastructure, which dramatically boosted semiconductor sales. This demand has been a lifeline for major chip manufacturers like Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, both of which recently reported substantial quarterly profits.
While imports also saw a healthy increase of 16.7%, the strong export performance led to a preliminary trade surplus of $23.77 billion. This positive trade balance indicates that high-margin tech shipments are effectively compensating for increased energy costs, which have risen due to the ongoing Middle East conflict.