S. Korea Posts Record Current Account Surplus on Chip Exports

South Korea posted its biggest current account surplus on record in February as booming semiconductor exports lifted the goods balance before the Iran war began to ripple through energy markets and global shipping.

The current account surplus reached $23.2 billion in February, the biggest monthly surplus on record, according to Bank of Korea data released Wednesday. The goods balance alone posted a record $23.4 billion surplus, as exports jumped almost 30% from a year earlier, far outpacing the 4% increase in imports.