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South Korea's record current account surplus
South Korea's current account surplus reached $116.63 billion in Q2, surpassing Germany and Japan combined, and $46.1 billion in August, driven by semiconductor exports.
No new coverage since 25 October 2026.
The story so far as of 25 October 2026
On 8 October, South Korea posted a current account surplus of $46.1 billion in August, a $4 billion increase from July and a $36.2 billion jump from August 2025. This surplus was driven by robust exports, particularly in semiconductors. On 25 October, the current account surplus for Q2 reached $116.63 billion, surpassing the combined surpluses of Germany and Japan for the first time since 1996, driven by strong semiconductor exports and increased overseas investment returns.
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Coverage, day by day
- Markets
Korea's Q2 Surplus Surpasses Germany, Japan Combined
Impact Exporters and investors benefit from Korea's strong trade performance and increased global economic standing.
Sources: Korea.net ↗, The Korea Herald ↗
- Trade
South Korea extends current account surplus in August
Impact Exporters, especially in semiconductors, benefit from South Korea's strong current account surplus.
Sources: Korea.net ↗
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