Exports rose 102.0 percent from a year earlier, while imports increased 65.5 percent to $22.3 billion, leaving a trade surplus of $3.8 billion, according to preliminary data from the Korea Customs Service (KCS).
The headline increase was amplified by two additional working days, with 5.5 working days during the period this year compared with 3.5 days a year earlier.
Even after adjusting for the difference, average daily exports rose 28.5 percent to a record $4.75 billion.
Semiconductor exports jumped 170.9 percent to $12.2 billion, the highest ever for the first 10 days of October.
Chips accounted for 46.7 percent of total exports, up 11.9 percentage points from a year earlier.
Exports of passenger cars rose 82.7 percent, while petroleum products increased 45.6 percent and wireless communication devices gained 62.6 percent.
Ship exports fell 13.4 percent.
Shipments to major trading partners also increased sharply.
Exports to China surged 167.3 percent to $7.6 billion, while shipments to the United States rose 159.9 percent to $3.7 billion.
Exports to Vietnam increased 89.7 percent, while shipments to the European Union climbed 127.3 percent.
China, the United States and Vietnam together accounted for 52.3 percent of total exports.
Imports also increased across major categories, with crude oil shipments rising 56.2 percent to $4.3 billion and semiconductor imports gaining 66.7 percent to $3.3 billion.
Gas imports more than doubled, rising 125.5 percent to $1.4 billion.
Combined imports of crude oil, gas and coal increased 64.8 percent from a year earlier.
The KCS cautioned that the figures cover only the first 10 days of the month and can be significantly affected by changes in the number of working days.
AJP Takeaways
- South Korea's exports reached $26.1 billion in the first 10 days of October, the highest ever for the period, as semiconductor shipments surged.
- Average daily exports rose 28.5 percent to a record $4.75 billion even after adjusting for two additional working days.
- Semiconductor exports jumped 170.9 percent to $12.2 billion and accounted for 46.7 percent of total exports.
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