South Korea's early July exports hit record $29.8 billion as chip shipments surge 193%

South Korea posted record exports for the first 10 days of July 2026, with shipments surging nearly 54% to $29.8 billion as semiconductor exports jumped 193% to $11.2 billion, accounting for more than a third of the total ^[2]. This historic performance, the highest for any month's opening decade since the Customs Service began tracking data, is driven by a global boom in artificial intelligence investment that has fueled unprecedented demand for chips ^[1][2]. The semiconductor surge positions South Korea as a critical player in the AI supply chain, benefiting the nation's economy as the fourth-largest in Asia and marking its entry as the fourth country globally to reach monthly export values of $100 billion earlier in the year ^[1][2]. While exports hit a record in early July, broader July data for the full month showed a more moderate 5.9% annual increase, though still beating forecasts due to continued strong chip demand ^[3].