SEOUL, March 1 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's exports hit an all-time high for February due to strong demand for locally-made semiconductors, government data showed Sunday.
Exports, which account for about half of the export-driven economy, soared 29.0 percent to 67.45 billion U.S. dollars in February, surpassing all previous records for the month, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources.
The daily average export surged 49.3 percent to 3.55 billion dollars, topping 3.0 billion dollars for the first time.
Imports grew 7.5 percent to 51.94 billion dollars in February compared to the same month in 2025, sending the trade surplus to 15.51 billion dollars.
Of the country's 15 major export items, only five products saw growth in outbound shipments amid fewer business days due to the Lunar New Year's holidays.
Semiconductor export spiked 160.8 percent to reach a new monthly high of 25.16 billion dollars, topping 20 billion dollars for the third straight month.
The record chip shipment was driven by excess demand from expanding artificial intelligence investment and a subsequent surge in memory chip prices.
Exports to the United States surged 29.9 percent to 12.85 billion dollars, thanks to soaring chip demand that offset the negative effect of the U.S. tariff imposition.
Shipments to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations swelled 30.4 percent to 12.47 billion dollars, while exports to the European Union gained 10.3 percent to 5.60 billion dollars. ■