South Korean exports were forecast to increase 62.0% year on year in September, extending their growth streak to 16 months as semiconductor demand linked to AI investment remained strong. The expected increase would be the slowest in four months, down from 68.7% in August, but economists said calendar effects distorted the comparison. September had 21.5 working days, versus 24 a year earlier, because the Chuseok holidays fell in September this year and October last year. In the first 20 days of September, exports rose 78.3% to a record, while semiconductor sales surged 259.4%; exports increased 89.8% on a working-day basis. Imports were forecast to rise 21.5%, and the trade surplus was expected to reach a monthly record of $38.15 billion. The won traded around 1,358 per dollar, near two-year highs, as strong chip demand supported expectations for export revenues and foreign-currency inflows. The finance ministry and Bank of Korea agreed to strengthen cooperation on financial-market monitoring and response while seeking a coordinated policy mix. Higher U.S. Treasury yields raised concerns about wider interest-rate differentials and further Federal Reserve hikes, while oil prices extended gains amid uncertainty over a potential U.S.-Iran deal and continued Middle East supply concerns.