SEOUL, Nov. 13 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's export volume surged at a record pace in October on the back of robust shipments of semiconductors and chipmaking equipment, central bank data showed Friday.
The export volume index soared 43.9 percent in October from a year earlier, marking its fastest pace on record and accelerating from 20.1 percent in July, 25.9 percent in August and 32.2 percent in September, according to the Bank of Korea (BOK).
It maintained an upward trajectory for 12 consecutive months since November 2025, driven by strong demand for memory chips used in artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure.
In terms of volume, exports for computers, electronic and optical devices, including memory chips, skyrocketed 51.2 percent, while those for machinery and equipment such as semiconductor manufacturing equipment jumped 38.7 percent.
Backed by high chip prices, the export value index shot up 107.6 percent in October compared to the same month last year.
The import volume index grew 14.9 percent on solid demand for chips and chipmaking equipment, while the import value index spiked 36.6 percent.
The net terms-of-trade index for goods, or a ratio of export prices to import prices, went up 21.3 percent in October on a yearly basis due to faster growth in export prices than import prices. ■