Ministry of Trade Industry and Resources

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) announced that in January 2026, Korea’s exports rose 33.9 percent year-on-year to USD 65.9 billion, while imports increased 11.7 percent to $57.1 billion, resulting in an $8.7 billion surplus.

Exports hit the highest level on record for any January, topping $60.0 billion for the first time. Average daily exports (adjusted for working days) rose 14.0 percent year-on-year to $2.8 billion, also a record for any January.

By product, exports increased in 13 of Korea’s 15 key export items. Semiconductors rose to $20.5 billion (up 102.7 percent), followed by wireless communication devices ($2.0 billion, up 66.9 percent), computers ($1.6 billion, up 89.2 percent), displays ($1.4 billion, up 26.1 percent), automobiles ($6.1 billion, up 21.7 percent), petroleum products ($3.7 billion, up 8.5 percent), and bio-health products ($1.4 billion, up 18.3 percent). By contrast, petrochemicals fell to $3.5 billion (down 1.5 percent) and ships slipped to $2.5 billion (down 0.4 percent).

Beyond the 15 major items, exports of electrical equipment ($1.4 billion, up 19.8 percent), agri-fishery products ($1.0 billion, up 19.3 percent), and cosmetics ($1.0 billion, up 36.4 percent) each posted record highs for January.

By destination, exports increased in seven of Korea’s nine major markets, including China ($13.5 billion, up 46.7 percent), the United States ($12.0 billion, up 29.5 percent), ASEAN ($12.1 billion, up 40.7 percent), and the EU ($5.4 billion, up 6.9 percent).

Imports rose 11.7 percent year-on-year to $57.1 billion. Energy imports fell to $10.0 billion (down 11.9 percent), while non-energy imports rose to $47.1 billion (up 18.4 percent).

The trade surplus in January came to $8.7 billion, up $10.7 billion from a year earlier, marking the largest on record for any January and extending Korea’s surplus streak to 12 consecutive months since February 2025.

Minister JK (Jung-Kwan) Kim stated, “Exports in January posted double-digit growth, marking a solid start to the year.” He added, “It is encouraging that growth was broad-based across major items such as semiconductors and automobiles, as well as promising consumer goods.”

Noting that “uncertainty in the trade environment is increasing amid recent U.S. tariff policy and spreading protectionism,” Minister Kim said, “the government will continue consultations with the United States while keeping Korea’s national interests as the top priority.” He added, “the government will mobilize all available resources to build a more resilient trade structure by diversifying products and markets and broadening the exporter base.”