Exports more than doubled compared to last year, reaching a record high for the period from October 1 to 20. The average daily export amount, adjusted for working days, also set a new record.
According to the Customs Office's report on the '2026 October 1-20 Export and Import Status' released on the 21st, the export amount (preliminary customs clearance data) for this period was $61.612 billion, marking a 105.4% increase from the same period last year. This figure represents the highest ever recorded for the October 1-20 timeframe. Consequently, the cumulative export amount for this year reached $876.336 billion, up 59.5% from a year ago.
The average daily export amount, considering the number of working days, was $4.74 billion. With 2.5 more working days than the same period last year, the average daily export amount increased by 65.9%. This surpassed the previous record for the highest average daily export amount for the first 20 days of the month set last month.
The surge in exports was driven by semiconductors. From October 1 to 20, semiconductor exports totaled $27.516 billion, a staggering 222.5% increase compared to the same period last year. This also marked the highest semiconductor export amount recorded for the October 1-20 period. Semiconductors accounted for 44.7% of total exports, up 16.2 percentage points from last year.
Other major export items also saw increases. Exports of computer peripherals surged by 424.0% to $2.432 billion. Exports of petroleum products (68.3%), passenger cars (40.9%), steel products (42.6%), and wireless communication devices (42.7%) also rose. After showing a decline from October 1 to 10, ship exports increased by 6.9% to $1.621 billion.
By country, exports increased from the top ten trading partners, including China (154.4%), the United States (154.9%), Vietnam (74.6%), the European Union (78.2%), and Taiwan (36.7%). Notably, exports to China reached $16.686 billion, while exports to the United States totaled $10.778 billion. The combined export share from the top three countries—China, the United States, and Vietnam—accounted for 52.7% of total exports.
Imports amounted to $47.117 billion, a 42.8% increase from the same period last year. The cumulative import amount for this year reached $609.49 billion, up 21.2%. By category, semiconductor imports rose by 78.4% to $7.573 billion. Imports of machinery (43.7%) and semiconductor manufacturing equipment (93.4%) also increased.
Energy imports, including crude oil, gas, and coal, rose by 53.5%. Crude oil imports increased by 42.9% to $7.448 billion. Gas imports surged by 112.4% to $2.82 billion, while coal imports rose by 16.0% to $720 million.
Imports from major countries also increased, including China (71.1%), the United States (12.9%), the EU (34.6%), Taiwan (84.2%), and Japan (45.6%).
With exports exceeding imports, the trade balance recorded a surplus of $14.496 billion, a turnaround from a deficit of $2.984 billion during the same period last year. This brings the cumulative trade surplus for the year to $266.926 billion.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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