Semiconductors lead exports / KBS 2025.12.31.

[Anchor]

In the midst of the AI boom, semiconductors have also led our exports.

Concerns about sluggish exports due to the impact of tariffs from the United States were very high, but despite this, total exports recorded the highest ever.

However, when we look at the situation by item, each industry faced different circumstances.

Let's take a look back at the industrial sector in 2025 and what the outlook is for next year.

Park Kyeong-jun reports.

[Report]

This is high-bandwidth memory, HBM chips.

This semiconductor, about the size of a fingernail, has led exports this year.

Achieving 700 billion dollars in annual exports for the first time in history.

Semiconductors accounted for a quarter of total exports.

With the AI boom, demand and prices have risen simultaneously, creating what is known as a 'supercycle'.

Cars waiting for export at the Pyeongtaek Port terminal.

This was the scene in April, just before the imposition of high tariffs by the United States.

The second-largest export item, automobiles, experienced a 'rollercoaster' year due to the U.S.'s erratic trade policies.

While the 25% tariff was reduced to 15%, exports to the U.S., the largest market, decreased by more than 10%.

In the shipbuilding industry, which has become a symbol of Korea-U.S. cooperation, the results of high-value ship orders have begun to show, leading to an over 20% increase in exports this year.

With the Korea-U.S. shipbuilding cooperation 'MASGA' project worth 150 billion dollars, expectations for expanded orders and strengthened supply chain cooperation are also growing.

Among the major export items, all except for semiconductors, cars, and shipbuilding recorded negative growth rates.

This indicates a significant concentration phenomenon.

Steel and petrochemicals have struggled due to China's low-price offensive and the global economic downturn.

In this situation, global protectionist trends are also strengthening.

[Jang Sang-sik/Director of International Trade Research Institute, Korea International Trade Association: "Countries are blockading supply chains, and very complex trade regulations combining security and economy are becoming the norm."]

The KDI predicts that next year, the impact of U.S. tariff increases will begin to spread, significantly slowing the growth of exports, except for some items like semiconductors.

This is KBS News, Park Kyeong-jun.

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