AI chips account for half of South Korea's exports, which are aiming for a trillion dollars this year!

South Korea's exports have already surpassed the level of the entire previous year, with investment in AI infrastructure being the main driving force.

On September 5, Reuters reported that South Korea's total exports so far this year have reached $709.4 billion, surpassing the previous record of $709.3 billion for the entire year of 2025. The Korea Customs Service predicts that South Korea is likely to break the $1 trillion mark in early December, becoming the fourth country in the world to achieve this milestone in annual exports.

Semiconductors are the core engine of this round of export growth. From January to August, South Korea's chip exports surged 169.6% year-on-year to $281 billion, accounting for 41% of total exports during the same period. Continued expansion of global AI infrastructure investment has driven a surge in demand for memory chips, tightening supply and pushing up prices, with Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix being direct beneficiaries.

Meanwhile, the recovery in demand in major markets has further supported South Korea's export growth. However, the export structure remains significantly differentiated. Passenger vehicles, the second largest export category, saw overseas shipments decline by 4% year-on-year , indicating that South Korea's current export growth is highly dependent on semiconductors.

The Korea Customs Service pointed out that despite uncertainties arising from supply chain adjustments and the situation in the Middle East, South Korean exports have maintained strong growth. If exports surpass $1 trillion by early December, South Korea's annual export volume will set a new record.

However, South Korea's current export growth is highly dependent on semiconductors, and its future performance will remain closely linked to the global AI investment cycle. Continued construction of AI infrastructure will continue to support chip demand and prices; if capital expenditure cools down, the high dependence of exports on semiconductors could amplify volatility.

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