Ministry of Trade Industry and Resources

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) announced on May 1 that Korea’s exports for April 2025 increased 3.7 percent year-on-year to USD 58.2 billion and imports decreased 2.7 percent to $53.3. billion, the trade balance netting a surplus of $4.9 billion.

April exports logged historic highs for the month, maintaining an upward trajectory for the third month running. By item, seven out of 15 major export items saw growth.

Semiconductors achieved an all-time high for the month with $11.7 billion (up 17.2 percent) as 8gb DDR4s’ fixed price rebounded for the first time in 12 months and robust demand for high-bandwidth memory chips (HBMs) continued. Wireless communication devices shot up 26.5 percent to $1.5 billion and kept up the growth momentum for the third consecutive month, led by the solid performance of smartphones (up 61.1 percent to $0.4 billion).

Bio-health (up 14.6 percent to $1.4 billion) recorded the highest for the month as biopharmaceuticals soared 21.8 percent to $0.9 billion. Steel exports ended their four-month losing streak with $3.0 billion (up 5.4 percent) and secondary batteries snapped the 16-month decline with $0.7 billion (up 13.7 percent). Ship exports surged 17.3 percent to $2.0 billion, advancing for the second month in a row.

Meanwhile, automobile exports dipped 3.8 percent but still reached this year’s new high at $6.5 billion. Conventional gasoline-powered vehicles and electric vehicles (EVs) faltered, while hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) carried forward their strong growth momentum for the 14th consecutive month. Car parts exports gained 3.5 percent to $2.0 billion, turning to an expansion for the first time this year.

Agricultural products attained fresh highs (up 8.6 percent to $1.1 billion) and cosmetics (up 20.8 percent to $1.0 billion) renewed their April monthly highs on the backs of the global popularity of K-food and K-beauty products. Exports of electrical devices were driven by transformers and power cables, setting record highs of $1.4 billion (up 14.9 percent).

By region, Korea’s exports expanded to seven out of nine major overseas markets in April.

China-bound exports grew 3.9 percent to $10.9 billion as semiconductor exports rebounded and wireless communication devices posted double-digit growth.

To ASEAN, exports rose 4.5 percent to $9.4 billion with semiconductors and steel products at the helm. EU-bound exports secured unprecedented highs of $6.7 billion (up 18.4 percent) as automobiles and bio-health both hiked by double digits.

Exports to India climbed 8.8 percent to an all-time high of $1.7 billion for the month, fueled by semiconductors, general machinery, and steel products. Exports to Latin America turned positive with $2.6 billion (up 3.9 percent). To the Middle East and CIS countries, exports increased for the third and second consecutive month, respectively, with $1.7 billion (up 1.6 percent) and $1.2 billion (up 37.2 percent).

U.S.-bound exports shrank 6.8 percent to $10.6 billion despite strong demand for petroleum products, secondary batteries, and wireless communication devices as shipments of automobiles and general machinery contracted.

In April, Korea’s energy imports declined 20.1 percent to $10.0 billion as imports of crude oil (down 19.9 percent) and gas (down 11.4 percent) diminished. Non-energy imports grew 2.4 percent to $43.4 billion.