SEOUL: South Korea’s exports continued to surge in March as record semiconductor shipments driven by the artificial intelligence (AI) boom and demand from China helped cushion the economy even as external risks intensified amid the war in Iran. The value of shipments adjusted for differences in the number of working days soared 41.9% from a year earlier, according to data released by the trade ministry. Shipments of autos, petroleum products and computers also increased, the trade ministry noted in a statement. For now the data suggest South Korea’s export engine remains intact, despite mounting headwinds from surging energy prices and geopolitical uncertainty. “Memory chip prices have softened recently, but remain elevated from a year earlier, supporting continued robust export growth,” said BNP Paribas economist Jeeho Yoon.

Source: The Star April 01, 2026 23:05 UTC