STOCKS | South Korea's August Exports Extend Strong Growth on AI Chip Demand

South Korea's August exports continued to grow strongly, with artificial intelligence demand boosting chip shipments and the broader economy. According to Sina Finance, customs data released Tuesday showed exports rose 72.5% year on year in August after adjusting for working-day differences, while imports increased 22.5% and the trade surplus reached $34.7 billion. Unadjusted exports rose 68.7%, compared with a revised 63% increase in July. Semiconductors remained the main driver of export growth, and the data showed external demand stayed resilient despite higher energy prices and geopolitical tensions. That supported the Bank of Korea's 25-basis-point rate hike at its second consecutive meeting last week. The Bank of Korea also raised its 2026 economic growth forecast from 2.6% to 3.3%. It kept its overall inflation forecast unchanged, expecting consumer prices to rise 2.7% this year and 2.3% in 2027, while lifting both years' core inflation forecasts slightly to 2.5%.