Benefiting from the wave of generative AI, South Korea's semiconductor industry exports continue to explode, offsetting the negative impact of the US's tax levy on South Korea. In August, exports showed strong growth in growth and continued to be sold in the third month.

According to reports from foreign media such as the Korean Federation, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on September 1 that exports in August 2025 reached US$58.4 billion, an increase of 1.3% from the same period last year, a three-year increase, but the increase was lower than 5.9% in July, and less than the 3% expected by Reuters' survey, and was mainly affected by the US "tax related to the relatives" of the 15% tax on Korean export goods courses.

The import amount in August was 51.89 billion US dollars, a decrease of 4% from the same period last year. After the imports offset, the trade difference was US$6.51 billion.

Among the main exports of South Korea in August, exports were still driven by semiconductors. In August, the export amount exceeded US$15.1 billion, accounting for more than two% of the total exports, with an annual growth rate of 27.1%, setting a record high.

Car exports also performed brilliantly, with exports growing by 8.6% in August, reaching US$5.5 billion, a new high in the same month; ship exports also rose by 11.8% to US$3.14 billion, which has been growing for six consecutive months.

According to exporting countries, South Korea's export value to the United States fell by 12% in August, falling to US$8.74 billion, the largest decline since May 2020. At the end of July this year, US President Trump announced a negotiation with South Korea to reduce the tax rate on South Korea's other parties from the original 25% to 15%, effective from August 7.

The United States is South Korea's most important export target. In 2024, South Korea's exports to the United States accounted for 18.7% of its overall export proportion, ranking high as South Korea's largest export destination.

Exports to China also fell 2.9% to US$11.01 billion in August.

The Korean central bank predicted on August 28 that the economic growth rate in South Korea can reach 0.9% in 2025, up 0.1 percentage point from the May estimate of 0.8%, which includes the recovery of domestic consumption and the uncertainty of the US tax uncertainty.