# Exports up 60% in first 20 days of June on robust chip sales

> Source: <https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/economy/20260622/exports-up-60-in-first-20-days-of-june-on-robust-chip-sales?utm_source=rss>
> Published: 2026-06-22 01:07:03+00:00

Korea's exports jumped 60.4 percent from a year earlier in the first 20 days of June, data showed Monday, setting a new fresh high for the period amid robust shipments of semiconductors. Outbound shipments reached $62 billion in the June 1-20 period, compared with $38.6 billion tallied in the same period last year, according to the data from the Korea Customs Service. It marked the highest 20-day figure on record, surpassing the previous high of $54.3 billion posted in March this year. Imports went up 23.2 percent on-year to $44.5 billion over the cited period, resulting in a trade surplus of $17 billion, the latest findings showed. By sector, exports of chips nearly tripled to $25.5 billion amid soaring global demand for memory driven by the artificial intelligence (AI) industry. Semiconductors accounted for 41.2 percent of total exports, up 18.3 percentage points from a year earlier. Exports of automobiles and petroleum products also rose 2.3 percent and 39 percent, respectively, to $3.73 billion and $3.67 billion. Outbound shipments of auto parts, meanwhile, fell 9.5 percent to $1.1 bill