South Korea's July Exports Rise 5.9% on Strong Chip Demand; Imports Increase 0.7%, Below Forecast

South Korea's exports in July 2025 rose by 5.9% year on year, surpassing the estimated growth of 5.1%. The increase was primarily driven by strong demand for semiconductor chips, according to multiple data sources including Yonhap News and the Wall Street Journal. This export growth reflects an acceleration fueled by the robust chip sector. In contrast, South Korea's imports in July increased by 0.7% year on year, which was below the forecasted 2.0% and the previous month's 3.3% growth.