South Korea's Semiconductor Exports Expected to Remain Strong Through 2026

Barclays Bank economist Bum Ki Son has projected that South Korea's export growth, driven by chip exports, is likely to remain robust through the first half of 2026. According to Jin10, Son noted that the significant increase in semiconductor contract prices has bolstered the country's tech product exports, with chip prices rising by 30%-40% quarter-on-quarter in the first quarter. He anticipates further price increases in the second quarter due to capacity constraints and expected supply shortages that may persist until the end of 2026. Consequently, Son added that the momentum in semiconductor export growth is expected to continue strong through the first half of 2026.