Business · Economy · 2 hrs ago
South Korea’s Q2 current-account surplus topped Germany and Japan combined
A $116.63 billion current-account surplus was recorded by South Korea in the second quarter.
A current-account surplus means a country received more from abroad through trade and other transactions than it paid out.
South Korea’s total was larger than Germany and Japan’s combined, whose surpluses totaled $102.89 billion.
It was the first time since comparable records began in 1996 that South Korea had exceeded the two countries’ combined surplus.
The South Korean surplus was 4.1 times its level a year earlier, while Germany’s and Japan’s rose by 11.9% and 5.0%.
South Korea ranked second among 36 countries with available figures, behind China, and its surplus also exceeded Germany’s and Japan’s combined total in July and August.
South Korea recorded a current-account surplus of $116.63 billion in the second quarter, exceeding Germany and Japan combined for the first time.
Germany and Japan had surpluses of $52.28 billion and $50.62 billion, respectively, a combined $102.89 billion.
South Korea’s surplus was 4.1 times its level in the same quarter a year earlier.
The increase was driven largely by higher semiconductor exports, which rose 181.6% year over year in the second quarter.
Among 36 countries with second-quarter data, South Korea ranked second behind China.
- Who
- South Korea, Germany and Japan.
- What
- South Korea’s second-quarter current-account surplus exceeded the combined surpluses of Germany and Japan for the first time.
- When
- The second quarter of 2026.
- Where
- South Korea, Germany and Japan; the figures are country-level current-account statistics.
- Why
- South Korea’s surplus grew sharply, mainly because semiconductor exports increased.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
South Korea recorded a current-account surplus of $28.39 billion.
South Korea’s surplus reached $116.63 billion, above Germany and Japan combined.
South Korea recorded a surplus of $88.19 billion, compared with $80.82 billion for Germany and Japan combined.
South Korean semiconductor exports reached $148.02 billion, up 218.7% year over year.
- South Korea’s Q2 surplus
- $116.63 billion
- Germany’s Q2 surplus
- $52.28 billion
- Japan’s Q2 surplus
- $50.62 billion
- Germany and Japan combined
- $102.89 billion
- South Korea’s Q2 semiconductor exports
- $113.89 billion, up 181.6% year over year
- South Korea’s global ranking
- Second among 36 countries with Q2 data, behind China