South Korea's exports continued to rise for the 12th consecutive month in September, driven by strong chip shipments. Data from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy revealed that outbound shipments increased by 7.5 percent year-on-year to $58.7 billion, while imports grew by 2.2 percent to $52.1 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of $6.66 billion. This marks the 16th straight month of trade surplus for South Korea. The semiconductor sector saw a significant boost, with exports increasing by 37.1 percent to $13.6 billion, maintaining growth for 11 consecutive months. Automobile exports also rose by 4.9 percent to $5.5 billion, the highest amount for any September. Main export destinations included China and the United States, with exports to these countries increasing by 6.3 percent and 3.4 percent, respectively. The government emphasized the need to address export-related risks, such as geopolitical uncertainties and port strikes, to minimize any negative impact on exports. Despite a 7.4 percent decline in outbound shipments in 2023 due to chip performance and global economic uncertainties, the recent data reflects a positive trend in South Korea's export sector.