South Korea's current account surplus reaches $28.29 billion
South Korea's current account recorded a preliminary surplus of 28.29 billion dollars in April 2026. This significant increase was primarily driven by a robust goods account, as reported by the Bank of Korea.
Exports fuel record goods surplus
The Korean current account registered a substantial surplus of 28.29 billion dollars in April 2026.
This strong performance was largely attributable to the goods account, which posted a surplus of 33.88 billion dollars.
Exports surged by 54.5 percent year-on-year, reaching 90.59 billion dollars, while imports also increased by 16.1 percent to 56.70 billion dollars over the same period.
This robust growth in trade highlights the continued strength of South Korea's export-oriented economy.
In contrast, the services account recorded a deficit of 2.42 billion dollars, primarily due to shortfalls in other business services and manufacturing services.
The primary income account also posted a deficit of 2.53 billion dollars, driven by a decrease in income on equity, while the secondary income account showed a deficit of 0.64 billion dollars.
Financial account sees net asset increase
Regarding the financial account, net assets increased by 25.46 billion dollars during April 2026, reflecting dynamic cross-border investment flows.
Direct investment saw a net increase of 7.60 billion dollars, resulting from a 6.24 billion dollar rise in assets and a 1.36 billion dollar decrease in liabilities.
Portfolio investment also contributed positively, with a net increase of 4.71 billion dollars, as assets grew by 8.22 billion dollars and liabilities increased by 3.51 billion dollars.
Financial derivatives, however, posted a net decrease of 1.51 billion dollars.
Other investments recorded a significant net increase of 13.65 billion dollars, driven by an 8.87 billion dollar increase in assets and a 4.78 billion dollar decrease in liabilities.
Reserve assets also increased by 1.02 billion dollars, further bolstering the nation's external financial position.
External position remains robust
The substantial current account surplus underscores South Korea's strong external financial position, driven by a resilient export performance.
Despite deficits in services and primary income, the overall balance of payments indicates a healthy capacity to absorb external shocks.
This data provides crucial evidence for assessing the nation's economic stability and its ongoing integration into global trade flows.