Key facts
- South Korea's current account surplus reached $42 billion in July.
- This surplus was driven by strong exports, which increased by 65.3% year-on-year.
- The goods account posted a surplus of $40.43 billion.
- The primary income account also contributed positively due to increased equity income.
- This is the 39th consecutive month South Korea has reported a current account surplus.
South Korea continued its trend of current account surpluses in July, with the balance reaching $42 billion. This figure, while down from the previous month, marked a significant increase compared to the same period last year and represented the highest surplus for any July on record. The robust performance was primarily fueled by strong exports, particularly in goods, which saw a substantial 65.3% year-on-year increase, reaching $100.4 billion. The goods account alone posted a surplus of $40.43 billion. Additionally, the primary income account contributed positively due to an increase in equity income. This latest surplus extends South Korea's streak to 39 consecutive months of positive current account balances, following a record annual surplus of $123.05 billion in 2025.