South Korea Exports Set for Fastest Rise Since 1974

South Korea expects October exports to surge at their fastest pace in over fifty years. Robust global demand for artificial intelligence semiconductors and memory chips drives the growth, supported by calendar effects.

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FILE PHOTO: SK Hynix's HBM (High Bandwidth Memory) memory chips are displayed at a SK Hynix booth before a public briefing on the development vision for the advanced industry in South Korea's southwestern region, in Gwangju, South Korea, June 30, 2026. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji/File Photo

South Korea's October exports likely rose 93.2% from a year earlier, marking the fastest pace of growth since January 1974. The surge was driven by robust demand for artificial intelligence-related semiconductors and higher memory chip prices.