Seoul, Feb 6 (NationPress) In a remarkable achievement, South Korea recorded its highest-ever annual current account surplus in 2025, driven by strong exports stemming from heightened demand for semiconductors, as revealed by central bank statistics on Friday.

The nation's current account surplus reached $123.05 billion last year, a significant increase from $99.97 billion the previous year, according to data from the Bank of Korea (BOK).

This figure sets a new record for annual surplus, eclipsing the former peak of $105.1 billion recorded in 2015 and exceeding the BOK's projection of $115 billion, as reported by Yonhap news agency.

The unprecedented surplus was fueled by robust exports during a semiconductor upcycle. The goods account reported a surplus of $138.07 billion in 2025, up from $110.91 billion a year prior, with exports climbing by 2.1 percent year-on-year to a record $718.94 billion.

Export volumes of semiconductors surged by 21.9 percent to $175.3 billion in 2025. Meanwhile, vehicle exports saw a slight rise of 0.3 percent to $68.55 billion, and maritime vessel exports soared by 24 percent to $30.38 billion.

Conversely, the services account recorded a deficit of $34.52 billion, compared to a deficit of $29.43 billion in 2024, primarily due to a travel account shortfall and expenditures related to intellectual property rights.

The primary income account, which monitors foreign worker wages, overseas dividend payments, and interest income, achieved a surplus of $27.92 billion in 2025, slightly up from $26.78 billion the previous year, as per the data.

According to BOK official Kim Young-hwan, “The current account surplus surpassed $100 billion for the second time ever in 2025, largely owing to the semiconductor supercycle and declining global oil prices.”

“Despite uncertainties surrounding U.S. tariff policies and geopolitical risks, we anticipate that the current account will remain robust this year,” he added.

In December alone, South Korea recorded a current account surplus of $18.7 billion, an increase from $12.74 billion a year earlier and $12.9 billion the previous month.

This marks the highest monthly surplus ever, surpassing the prior record of $14.22 billion set in September 2025.

South Korea has noted a current account surplus every month since May 2023, achieving the second-longest streak of surpluses on record.

In detail, the goods account achieved a historic $18.85 billion surplus in December, marking the 22nd consecutive month of surplus.

Exports grew by 13.1 percent year-on-year to $71.65 billion, while imports increased by 1.7 percent to $52.8 billion.