In April, South Korea's exports soared to $58.21 billion, marking a 3.7% year-on-year increase that exceeded market forecasts of 2.0%. This represented the highest growth rate in four months. The primary catalyst behind this robust performance was the strong demand for chips, with semiconductor exports surging 17.2%, also the largest increase in four months. Steel product exports recorded a 5.4% rise, ending a three-month downturn. However, the automotive sector faced challenges due to US tariffs, resulting in a 3.8% decline in exports, though automotive component exports witnessed a 3.5% uptick. Furthermore, wireless communication equipment and biopharmaceutical products experienced notable growths of 26.5% and 21.8%, respectively. Regionally, South Korea's exports to the US declined by 6.8%, whereas exports to the EU skyrocketed 18.4% to a record high of $6.7 billion. As the first major exporting economy to publish its monthly trade data, South Korea's figures offer an early glimpse into the global trade landscape.