South Korea current account surplus widens on chip supercycle

· Economy · South Korea

South Korea posted a current account surplus of $46.1 billion in August, extending its surplus amid solid exports driven by a semiconductor supercycle, the Bank of Korea said. The country has benefited from strong global demand for memory chips. The data underscores how the AI-driven chip boom is supporting South Korea's external balances even as other sectors face headwinds. The surplus figure was reported in Seoul.

Why it matters：South Korea's export-driven surplus illustrates how the AI chip cycle is reshaping trade balances across Asia.

Key points

  • South Korea logged a $46.1 billion current account surplus in August.
  • The surplus was supported by solid exports amid a chip supercycle.
  • The Bank of Korea reported the figures.

Sources (original reporting)

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