South Korea's Export Volume Surges on Semiconductor Boom, Driven by AI Infrastructure Demand

South Korea's export volume index soared 43.9 percent in October from a year earlier, marking its fastest pace on record and continuing an upward trajectory for 12 consecutive months since November 2025. This surge is primarily driven by strong global demand for memory chips used in artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure. Exports for computers, electronic, and optical devices, including memory chips, skyrocketed 51.2 percent, while machinery and equipment, such as semiconductor manufacturing equipment, jumped 38.7 percent.