Balance of trade · South Korea
South Korea Balance of Trade
The South Korea Balance of Trade shows the difference between the value of goods (and sometimes services) that South Korea sells abroad and what it buys from abroad, or the growth of exports and imports.
- Importance
- Low
- Released
- Monthly
- Next release
- Currency
- KRW · South Korean won
- Central bank
- The Bank of Korea
Latest figures
The latest release for OCT, published on 1 November 2026, came in at $42.50B.
| Released | For | Actual | Consensus | Previous |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Nov 2026 | OCT | $42.50B | $37.24B | $49.97B |
| 1 Oct 2026 | SEP | $49.85B | $38.2B | $34.79B ® |
| 1 Sep 2026 | AUG | $34.75B | $30.7B | $30.32B |
| 1 Aug 2026 | JUL | $30.32B | $29.59B | $36.09B ® |
| 1 Jul 2026 | JUN | $36.15B | – | $27.04B ® |
| 1 Jun 2026 | MAY | $26.95B | $24.3B | $23.76B ® |
| 1 May 2026 | APR | $23.77B | $23B | $26.24B ® |
| 1 Apr 2026 | MAR | $25.74B | $21.2B | $15.38B ® |
| 1 Mar 2026 | FEB | $15.5B | $10B | $8.74B |
| 1 Feb 2026 | JAN | $8.74B | $4.6B | $12.17B ® |
| 1 Jan 2026 | DEC | $12.18B | $10B | $9.74B |
| 1 Dec 2025 | NOV | $9.74B | $8.4B | $6.00B ® |
Why it matters
Exports are a big part of demand for open economies (Germany, China, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands). A larger surplus means more foreign demand for the South Korean won; strong imports signal domestic demand. China's figures are read as a gauge of world demand.
How it is calculated
Customs records the value of goods crossing the border; services come from surveys. The balance is exports minus imports, usually seasonally adjusted.
Trade balance = exports − importsWhat changes mean
- Look at exports and imports separately: a wider surplus from collapsing imports is a sign of weak domestic demand, not strength.
- Exchange-rate moves take months to affect trade volumes (the J-curve).
Higher than expected: A larger surplus (or smaller deficit) than expected tends to support the South Korean won.
Lower than expected: A smaller surplus (or larger deficit) than expected tends to weigh on the South Korean won.
A short history
Trade balances were the obsession of mercantilism in the 16th–18th centuries; David Hume's price-specie flow mechanism (1752) explained why surpluses tend to correct themselves.
Questions
What is the South Korea Balance of Trade?
The South Korea Balance of Trade shows the difference between the value of goods (and sometimes services) that South Korea sells abroad and what it buys from abroad, or the growth of exports and imports.
What was the latest South Korea Balance of Trade?
$42.50B for OCT, published on 1 November 2026 (consensus $37.24B, previous $49.97B).
When is the next South Korea Balance of Trade?
On Tuesday 1 December 2026 at 00:00 UTC.
Educational content only, not investment advice. Figures are the published results as recorded by our calendar; market reactions described are typical, not guaranteed.