SEJONG — Korea’s exports grew 1.3 percent from a year earlier in August, despite U.S. tariff effects, thanks to strong demand for semiconductors, government data showed Monday. Outbound shipments came to $58.4 billion last month, rising for the third consecutive month, according to data compiled by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. Imports decreased 4 percent year-on-year to $51.89 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of $6.51 billion. Semiconductor exports jumped 27.1 percent year-on-year to reach an all-time high of $15.1 billion in August, driven by a sharp increase in memory chip prices sparked by the global expansion of investment in artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure. Auto exports increased 8.6 percent year-on-year to $5.5 billion won, marking the highest figure for any August, on the back of robust demand for electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid cars. Ship exports surged 11.8 percent to $3.14 billion, marking the sixth consecutive month of increase, while shipments of agro-fisheries products added 3.2 percent to $960 million, also the highest for any August. Ship
