Despite ongoing trade uncertainties stemming from US tariff policies, South Korea's exports continued their upward trend in early February, bolstered by robust semiconductor demand. Data released by Korean customs on Monday showed that exports for the first 20 days of February increased by 47.3% year-on-year after adjusting for differences in working days. This growth rate surpassed the revised 34% increase recorded for the entire month of January. On an unadjusted basis, exports rose by 23.5%, while imports grew by 11.7%, resulting in a trade surplus of $4.95 billion. Although the reporting period included three days of the Lunar New Year holiday, reducing the number of working days, the overall trade data for February remained strong, indicating vigorous export momentum even after accounting for calendar effects. Driven by investments in artificial intelligence and data centers, semiconductor exports surged by 134%, continuing a robust upward trend. Exports of computer peripherals increased by 129%, while petrochemical product exports rose by 11%. In contrast, automobile exports fell by nearly 27%, and auto parts exports declined by approximately 21%, reflecting ongoing industry adjustments under US tariff policies. This performance indicates that South Korea's export engine continues to be supported by the global AI cycle, cushioning against weaknesses in other sectors. The Director-General of the World Trade Organization stated last month that the rapid development of AI is expected to support global merchandise trade this year, helping to offset pressures from US tariffs.