S. Korea's monthly exports hit US$120.9 bln in Sept. on record chip sales

SEOUL, Oct. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's exports soared 83.5 percent to a record US$120.9 billion in September from a year earlier, driven by a surge in chip shipments, data showed Thursday. Semiconductor exports exceeded $60 billion for the first time last month, boosting overall export figures, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources said in a press release. Imports climbed 26 percent from a year earlier to $71.09 billion, resulting in an unprecedented trade surplus of $49.85 billion. Containers are stacked at a port in Pyeongtaek, around 60 kilometers south of Seoul, in this file photo from July 24, 2026. (Yonhap) kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr(END)