Korea posts record-high $61B exports in November

Dec 01, 2025, 11:27 am

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A graphic illustrating Korea’s November export and import trends released by the Korea Customs Service and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. / Source: Graphics by reporter Park Jong-gyu

South Korea’s exports reached $61.04 billion in November, marking the highest November figure on record, the government said Monday. With six consecutive months of growth, cumulative exports for the year have also hit their strongest level in three years. Semiconductor and automobile sales continued to anchor the upward momentum.

According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, exports in November rose 8.4% on-year to $61.04 billion, the highest for any November. Imports grew 1.2% to $51.3 billion, resulting in a $9.73 billion trade surplus.

From January to November, cumulative exports reached $640.2 billion, the largest figure ever recorded for the same period. Average daily exports, reflecting the number of working days, also hit an all-time high of $2.71 billion, up 13.3%.

Semiconductors and automobiles drive export boom

Semiconductor exports surged 38.6% to $17.26 billion, the highest monthly total ever. Demand for high-value memory chips for data centers continued to rise, lifting prices and extending growth for a ninth straight month. Cumulative chip exports for the first 11 months reached $152.6 billion, already surpassing the previous annual record.

Automobile exports totaled $6.41 billion, up 13.7%, supported by growing demand for internal-combustion and hybrid vehicles. Hybrid shipments rose 43.4% to $1.62 billion, while electric vehicles dipped slightly by 1.2%. Still, cumulative auto exports reached $66.04 billion, hitting a new annual high.

Wireless communication devices ($1.73 billion, +1.6%), secondary batteries ($670 million, +2.2%), electric machinery, agricultural products and cosmetics all saw steady gains.

However, petroleum products ($3.28 billion, -10.3%) and petrochemicals ($3.06 billion, -14.1%) declined due to maintenance shutdowns and global oversupply.

Exports rise in five of nine major markets

Exports grew in five of Korea’s nine key markets.

China rose 6.9% to $12.07 billion, and ASEAN markets climbed 6.3% to $10.42 billion, maintaining above $11 billion for three straight months.

The Middle East surged 33.1% to $2.18 billion, while CIS shipments jumped 25.5% to $1.31 billion.

Exports to the United States were $10.35 billion, nearly unchanged from last year (-0.2%), as semiconductor and auto gains were offset by tariff-driven weakness in steel, machinery and auto parts.

Exports declined in the EU ($5.34 billion, -1.9%), Japan ($2.32 billion, -6.8%) and Latin America ($2.17 billion, -6.6%).

Trade surplus widens sharply

Imports of energy products fell to $8.72 billion, while non-energy imports rose 6.4% to $42.58 billion. Korea posted a $9.73 billion trade surplus, expanding by $4.17 billion from the previous year. Cumulative trade surplus for January–November stood at $66.07 billion, far exceeding last year’s full-year surplus of $51.84 billion.

Industry Minister Kim Jeong-gwan said exports continued their “six-month upward trajectory” despite global protectionism and U.S. tariffs. He added that Korea is benefiting from “turning crises into opportunities.”

Kim also pointed to the special bill submitted on November 26 to streamline U.S.-Korea strategic investment management, saying it fulfills tariff-reduction requirements for automobile and parts manufacturers and reduces uncertainty in U.S.-bound shipments.

“We will strengthen policy support so that exports maintain their growth momentum this month as well, and remain a core engine for economic recovery,” he said.

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