AI · SEMICONDUCTOR · FACT CHECK
SKD WIRETrue
South Korea's semiconductor exports surpassed $60 billion in September, driven largely by demand for AI-related chips, according to the claim examined by this desk. The figure reflects the continued strength of memory and advanced chip shipments amid the global AI infrastructure buildout.
The surge in semiconductor exports is attributed chiefly to AI-driven demand. Servers powering large language models and data centers require high-performance memory such as HBM, a segment where Korean suppliers including Samsung Electronics and SK hynix play leading roles. This demand has supported both shipment volumes and pricing through the year.
September's export total crossing the $60 billion mark underscores the scale of the AI-driven upcycle in Korea's chip industry. Semiconductors remain the country's single largest export item, and the September figure marks a notable threshold in monthly outbound shipments.
Sustained investment in AI data centers by global hyperscalers is expected to keep demand for advanced memory and logic chips elevated. However, export trajectories remain sensitive to exchange rates, tariff developments, and the pace of AI infrastructure spending worldwide.
The claim that AI pushed semiconductor exports past $60 billion in September is True.