South Korea Dec exports beat forecasts, wraps 2025 at a record

SEOUL: South Korea’s exports rose in December for a seventh consecutive month and wrapped 2025 at a record as exports have surpassed $700 billion for the first time, government data showed on Thursday.

Exports from Asia’s fourth-largest economy, a bellwether for global trade, rose 13.4% in December to $69.58 billion, trade data showed, beating a median 9.0% increase tipped in a Reuters poll of economists.

Imports also gained 4.6% in December from a year earlier to $57.40 billion.

Exports gained 3.8% during 2025 to $709.7 billion.