South Korea’s exports totaled $34.973 billion during September 1–10, up 82.6% from a year earlier and the highest figure ever recorded for the first 10 days of a month. The result surpassed the previous record of $30 billion set in early July. Semiconductors drove the increase, with shipments rising 270.1% to $16.483 billion and accounting for 47.1% of exports, compared with 23.2% a year earlier. Passenger-car exports increased 10% to $1.708 billion, while most other major categories also grew. Exports to China, the U.S. and Taiwan rose 103%, 137.5% and 176%, respectively. Cumulative exports reached $728.5 billion by September 10, exceeding last year’s full-year total of $709.3 billion. Imports rose 20.7% to $24.606 billion, generating a 10-day trade surplus of $10.367 billion; the cumulative surplus reached $212.99 billion, 5.4 times the year-earlier figure.