- Registration date2026-05-04
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The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) announced that in April 2026, Korea’s exports rose 48.0 percent year-on-year to USD 85.9 billion, while imports increased 16.7 percent to $62.1 billion, resulting in a $23.8 billion surplus.
Exports in April rose 48.0 percent to $85.9 billion, topping $80.0 billion for the second consecutive month. Average daily exports, adjusted for working days, increased 48.0 percent to $3.6 billion, exceeding $3.0 billion for the third consecutive month.
By product, exports increased in eight of Korea’s 15 key export items. Semiconductor exports rose to $31.9 billion (up 173.5 percent), as continued demand from AI servers pushed up fixed memory prices. The sector topped $30.0 billion for the second straight month and set a new April record, its 13th consecutive same-month high. Automobile exports fell to $6.2 billion (down 5.5 percent), as logistics disruptions linked to the conflict in the Middle East continued and Korean automakers expanded U.S. production in response to U.S. tariff measures. Petroleum product exports rose to $5.1 billion (up 39.9 percent), as higher oil prices lifted export unit prices despite a 36.0 percent decline in export volumes. Gasoline, diesel, and kerosene export volumes fell by approximately 43.0 percent, 23.2 percent, and 99.9 percent, respectively. Petrochemical exports increased to $4.1 billion (up 7.8 percent), as export unit prices rose only modestly due to the time lag before higher oil prices are reflected in product prices. Export volumes fell 20.9 percent amid increased domestic supply. Computers rose to $4.1 billion (up 515.8 percent), setting a new monthly record for the second consecutive month, and wireless communication devices increased to $1.6 billion (up 11.6 percent). Among items outside the 15 key export categories, electrical equipment, cosmetics, and agricultural and fisheries products also reached record highs for April.
By destination, exports increased in seven of Korea’s nine major markets. Exports to China rose 62.5 percent to $17.7 billion, extending their growth streak to six consecutive months, led by IT products including semiconductors, computers, and wireless communication devices. Exports to the United States rose to $16.3 billion (up 54.0 percent), as tariff-exempt items such as semiconductors and computers offset weaker exports of tariff-affected items, including automobiles, auto parts, and general machinery. Exports to ASEAN increased to $15.4 billion (up 64.0 percent), while exports to the EU rose to $7.2 billion (up 8.5 percent), extending their growth streak to five consecutive months. By contrast, exports to the Middle East fell 25.1 percent to $1.3 billion amid logistics disruptions and uncertainty linked to the conflict.
Imports rose 16.7 percent year-on-year to $62.1 billion. Energy imports increased 7.5 percent to $10.6 billion, while non-energy imports rose 18.8 percent to $51.5 billion. Crude oil imports rose 13.1 percent to $7.0 billion, as higher unit prices driven by the surge in oil prices more than offset lower import volumes caused by the conflict in the Middle East. Among non-energy imports, computers rose to $1.8 billion (up 35.6 percent) and semiconductor equipment to $2.5 billion (up 59.9 percent).
The trade surplus in April reached $23.8 billion, up $19.0 billion from April 2025, marking the largest April surplus on record and extending Korea’s surplus streak to 15 consecutive months since February 2025.
Minister JK (Jung-Kwan) Kim stated, “This two-month milestone, achieved despite the conflict in the Middle East continuing for more than two months, was made possible by Korean companies’ proactive efforts to secure supply chains amid expanding global AI investment and higher unit prices for petroleum products driven by rising oil prices.”
He added that the government will minimize the burden on exporters through marketing, financing, and insurance support, as well as export market diversification measures. The government will also use its trade networks to secure additional alternative supplies, including crude oil and naphtha, and help Korean companies maintain their global competitiveness.