Korea recorded its fifth-largest monthly current account surplus in January, driven by a semiconductor upcycle and strong exports, central bank data showed Friday. The current account surplus totaled $13.26 billion in January, down from $18.7 billion in December, according to the Bank of Korea (BOK). Compared with the same month a year earlier, however, the figure surged 397.4 percent, marking the fifth-largest monthly surplus on record. Korea has recorded a current account surplus every month since May 2023, extending its surplus streak to 33 consecutive months, the second longest in history. The nation logged the largest yearly surplus of $123.05 billion in 2025, surpassing the previous high of $105.1 billion set in 2015. The goods account posted a surplus of $15.17 billion in January, the third-largest monthly figure on record, as exports jumped 30 percent on-year to $65.51 billion, while imports added 7 percent to $50.34 billion. Chip exports soared 102.5 percent from a year earlier, while vehicle shipments increased 19 percent. The services account recorded a deficit of $3.8 billion in
Korea posts 5th-largest current account surplus in January: BOK
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