FX.co ★ South Korea Trade Surplus Beats Estimates

South Korea’s trade surplus widened sharply to USD 42.50 billion in October 2026, up from USD 6.00 billion a year earlier, beating market expectations of USD 37.24 billion and marking the 21st consecutive month in surplus. It was the second-largest trade surplus on record, as exports continued to outpace imports, according to flash data. Exports jumped 93.7% year-on-year, accelerating from an 83.7% increase in September, mainly on the back of soaring semiconductor shipments. Meanwhile, imports rose 36% year-on-year, up from a 26% gain in September, supported by resilient domestic demand.