Seoul, February 06 (QNA) - South Korea posted its largest-ever annual current account surplus last year, supported by robust exports amid strong semiconductor demand, central bank data showed Friday.
The country's current account surplus totaled $123.05 billion in 2025, up from $99.97 billion a year earlier, according to the data from the Bank of Korea (BOK), cited by Yonhap News Agency.
The figure marks the largest yearly surplus on record, surpassing the previous high of $105.1 billion set in 2015 and beating the BOK's forecast of $115 billion.
The record surplus was driven by strong exports amid a semiconductor upcycle.
The goods account logged a surplus of $138.07 billion last year, up from $110.91 billion the previous year, as exports rose 2.1% on-year to a new record high of $718.94 billion.
Outbound shipments of semiconductors surged 21.9% on-year to $175.3 billion in 2025, while exports of vehicles edged up 0.3% to $68.55 billion and those of vessels soared 24% to $30.38 billion.
The services account, however, posted a $34.52 billion deficit, compared with a $29.43 billion deficit in 2024, due mainly to a travel account deficit and payments for the use of intellectual property rights.
In December alone, the country posted a current account surplus of $18.7 billion, up from $12.74 billion a year earlier and $12.9 billion a month earlier.
It marks the largest monthly surplus on record, surpassing the previous high of $14.22 billion set in September 2025.
South Korea has reported a current account surplus every month since May 2023, marking the second-longest surplus streak on record.
In detail, the goods account logged a record $18.85 billion surplus in December, marking the 22nd consecutive month of surplus.
Exports advanced 13.1% on-year to $71.65 billion, while imports added 1.7 percent to $52.8 billion.
The services account, however, registered a $3.69 billion deficit in December, compared with a $2.38 billion deficit a year earlier and a $2.85 billion deficit reported in November.
The deficit was due largely to rising demand for overseas travel during the winter vacation season, according to the central bank. (QNA)