South Korea’s exports last year posted the biggest annual total on record, topping $70 billion for the first time.

Semiconductor exports rose to a record $173.4 billion, buoyed by a global artificial intelligence boom, and drove overall export growth.

Exports in December rose 13.4 percent, the highest for any December, extending an 11-month streak of year-on-year monthly gains.

The Ministry of Trade announced the 2025 export and import trend on Wednesday.

Exports in 2025 rose 3.8 percent from a year earlier to a record $709.7 billion, surpassing the previous record set in 2024.

Semiconductors, the top export item, increased 22.2 percent from a year earlier to a record $173.4 billion, setting a new high for a second straight year.

South Korea’s imports in 2025 fell 0.02 percent from a year earlier to $631.7 billion.

South Korea posted a $78.0 billion trade surplus last year.

Exports in December also set a record high on a monthly basis.

Exports in December rose 13.4 percent from a year earlier to $69.57 billion.

South Korea’s monthly exports have risen for 11 straight months from a year earlier since the growth rate turned positive in February last year.

Semiconductor exports in December rose 43.2 percent from a year earlier to $20.77 billion, extending gains for 10 straight months and setting a record high.

Imports in December rose 4.6 percent from a year earlier to $57.4 billion.

December’s trade surplus stood at $12.18 billion.

The monthly trade balance has been in surplus for 20 straight months since June 2023.

[Yonhap News Agency]