Imports climbed 26.7 percent from the same period last year to $48.4 billion, leaving a trade surplus of nearly $23.0 billion.
Average daily exports rose 89.8 percent from a year earlier to $4.61 billion despite 15.5 working days during the period, one fewer than a year earlier.
The tally was about 15.7 percent above the previous record of $61.7 billion set in June for the first 20 days of a month.
August exports had already jumped 68.7 percent from the same month last year to $98.25 billion, marking the third straight month that shipments exceeded $90 billion.
Semiconductor exports more than tripled to a record $34.1 billion in the Sept. 1-20 period, rising 259.4 percent from the same period in 2025.
They accounted for 47.8 percent of all outbound shipments, up 24.1 percentage points from a year earlier.
The increase in semiconductor shipments accounted for about 79 percent of the $31.4 billion rise in total exports from the same period last year.
Still, exports excluding semiconductors grew 22.0 percent from a year earlier, showing that the gains extended beyond the chip sector.
Non-semiconductor exports had risen about 25.8 percent from a year earlier during Sept. 1-10, when overall exports jumped 82.6 percent and chip shipments soared 270.1 percent.
Among other major products, petroleum-product exports increased 47.8 percent from a year earlier, while ship exports rose 63.0 percent.
Passenger-car shipments gained 9.3 percent over the same period.
Exports of computer peripherals surged 187.6 percent compared with the same period last year, while wireless communication devices, auto parts, precision instruments and home appliances declined.
Shipments to China rose 113.8 percent from a year earlier to $16.6 billion, while exports to the U.S. jumped 118.0 percent to $14.2 billion.
Exports to Viet Nam increased 44.8 percent from the same period last year to $5.87 billion, while shipments to Taiwan surged 128.5 percent and those to the European Union rose 37.0 percent.
China, the U.S. and Viet Nam together accounted for 51.4 percent of total exports during the period.
On the import side, semiconductor purchases rose 88.8 percent from a year earlier, while imports of semiconductor manufacturing equipment climbed 55.6 percent.
Crude-oil imports increased 37.3 percent compared with the same period last year, pushing combined imports of crude oil, gas and coal up 27.9 percent.
Exports totaled $765.0 billion from the start of the year through Sept. 20, up 55.0 percent from the same period last year.
Imports increased 19.5 percent from a year earlier to $539.4 billion, resulting in a cumulative trade surplus of $225.6 billion.
The customs agency cautioned that the figures cover only the first 20 days of the month and may be affected by differences in working days and the timing of customs clearances.
AJP Takeaways
- South Korea's exports surged 78.3 percent from a year earlier to a record $71.4 billion in Sept. 1-20, while average daily shipments climbed 89.8 percent despite one fewer working day.
- Semiconductor exports jumped 259.4 percent from a year earlier to $34.1 billion and accounted for nearly four-fifths of South Korea's total export increase, while non-chip shipments grew 22.0 percent.
- Non-semiconductor exports rose about 25.8 percent from a year earlier during Sept. 1-10 and maintained growth of more than 20 percent through Sept. 20, while South Korea's exports to both China and the U.S. more than doubled.
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