Chip Surge Drives Ninth Month of South Korean Export Growth

South Korea is projected to record its ninth consecutive month of export growth in February, driven by a significant surge in semiconductor demand linked to the global artificial intelligence boom. According to a median forecast from a Reuters poll of nine economists, exports from the nation—a key bellwether for global trade—are expected to have risen 24.0% compared to the same period last year. While this is a decrease from the 33.8% growth seen in January, it remains the second-strongest year-on-year increase in the current growth cycle that began in mid-2025.