The Bank of Korea said the August surplus was 46.1 billion dollars, the second largest on record, as goods exports rose 82.1 percent to 104.8 billion dollars.
South Korea posted a current-account surplus of 46.1 billion dollars in August, the Bank of Korea said on Thursday, Yonhap reported from Sejong. The surplus was 4 billion dollars larger than in July and 36.2 billion dollars larger than a year earlier.
It was the second-largest monthly surplus on record, after 49.73 billion dollars in June, and the third straight month above 40 billion dollars. The January-August surplus was 279.2 billion dollars, nearly four times the same period a year earlier. August was the 40th consecutive monthly surplus since May 2023.
The goods account was a surplus of 46.81 billion dollars. Exports rose 82.1 percent from a year earlier to 104.8 billion dollars, a third straight month above 100 billion, while imports rose 23.8 percent to 57.99 billion dollars. On a customs basis, chip exports more than tripled. Petroleum-product exports rose 64.9 percent. Car and ship exports fell 30.1 percent and 45.2 percent.
Services recorded a 1.68 billion dollar deficit, including a travel deficit that widened to 770 million dollars from 340 million in July. Primary income was a 1.92 billion dollar surplus. A Bank of Korea official said the year-to-date figures match the forecast and that the annual surplus is still expected near 450 billion dollars, while oil-price swings tied to the Middle East war remain a risk.
The release is a monthly statistic, not a rate decision. The 2025 surplus, 123.05 billion dollars, remains the annual record, Yonhap said.
People Sentiments Positive
- A Bank of Korea official said figures through August match the forecast and that the annual surplus is still expected near 450 billion dollars.
- The official said whether the export trend continues will depend on semiconductors.