Source : WAM
The Republic of Korea recorded its largest-ever current account surplus for any November, driven by strong exports amid a semiconductor industry upcycle, central bank data showed Friday.
The country’s current account surplus reached US$12.24 billion in November, up sharply from $6.81 billion in October, according to data from the Bank of Korea (BOK).
This marked the highest November surplus since the BOK began compiling data in 1980, Yonhap News Agency reported.
Korea has maintained a current account surplus every month since May 2023, marking the second-longest streak on record.
For the first 11 months of 2025, the cumulative surplus totaled $101.82 billion, up from $86.68 billion in the same period of 2024, the largest figure ever recorded for that timeframe, according to the BOK.
The goods account posted a $13.31 billion surplus in November, up from $7.82 billion in October, as exports rose 5.5 percent year-on-year to $60.11 billion.
Chip exports surged 38.7 percent from a year earlier, while vehicle shipments grew 10.9 percent. Imports fell 0.7 percent year-on-year to $46.8 billion in November.
The services account showed a deficit of $2.73 billion in November, mainly due to higher overseas travel demand, though this narrowed from a $3.75 billion deficit in October.
The primary income account, which includes wages of foreign workers and dividend and interest income from abroad, posted a $1.83 billion surplus, largely driven by dividend earnings.
The secondary income account recorded a $180 million deficit, the data showed.
In the financial account, net assets increased by $8.27 billion in November, up from $6.81 billion the previous month.
