South Korea's Semiconductor Exports Surge 182.5% in Early April on AI Chip Demand

Gate News message, April 21 — South Korea’s semiconductor exports jumped 182.5% year-on-year to US$18.3 billion during April 1-20, according to Korea Customs Service data. Total exports rose 49.4% to US$50.4 billion, marking the highest level for the period, while imports increased 17.8% to US$39.9 billion, resulting in a US$10.4 billion trade surplus.

The surge was driven by strong AI chip demand, with Samsung Electronics posting preliminary first-quarter operating profit of 57.2 trillion won (US$37.9 billion), up 755% year-on-year, as memory-chip demand for AI data centers climbed. SK hynix, another leading memory-chip supplier, also benefited from AI demand alongside Samsung.

Shipments to China and the US grew substantially, reflecting strong demand in the two largest markets for advanced electronics and AI infrastructure. South Korea’s semiconductor exports reached a record US$173.4 billion in 2025, up over 20% from a year earlier.

However, trade policy uncertainties remain. The U.S. has imposed a 25% tariff on certain advanced computing chips such as Nvidia’s H200 and AMD’s MI325X, though South Korea’s trade minister said the near-term impact on Korean firms should be limited as memory-chip exports are currently excluded. Officials also warned that Middle East tensions and broader global tariff policies could still weigh on the outlook.