South Korea's exports reached $85.89 billion in April, up 48 percent year-on-year, marking the second consecutive month exports have surpassed the $80 billion threshold — a first in the country's history. The surge was driven primarily by a semiconductor supercycle, with chip exports jumping 173.5 percent to $31.9 billion, fuelled by strong demand for AI semiconductors and rising memory chip prices; computer exports also hit an all-time monthly high, up 515.8 percent to $4.08 billion. The trade surplus for April stood at $23.77 billion, also the second straight month it has exceeded $20 billion, though auto exports dipped 5.5 percent amid shipping disruptions linked to the Middle East conflict and Korean carmakers expanding production in the United States in response to U.S. tariffs.