(VOVWORLD) - South Korea’s exports to Vietnam reached 62.8 billion USD in 2025, up 7.6% year-on-year, according to the latest data released by South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) and the Korea International Trade Association (KITA).
 The 14th meeting of the Joint Committee on Trade, Industry and Energy Cooperation and the 8th meeting of the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Vietnam-Korea Trade Agreement took place on April 14, 2025 in Hanoi. (Photo: nhandan.vn) |
Meanwhile, South Korea’s imports from Vietnam rose 11.7% to 31.8 billion USD. As a result, bilateral trade turnover increased from 86.8 billion USD to 94.5 billion USD, representing growth of 9%.
Vietnam is now South Korea’s second-largest source of trade surplus, after the United States. In 2022, Vietnam ranked first and has maintained second place for the past three years.
The main driver of this growth has been the semiconductor sector. Fueled by the global expansion of AI and data centers, semiconductors, which are South Korea’s leading export, reached a record revenue of more than 170 billion USD worldwide. In Vietnam, semiconductors are also the top export item.
MOTIE officials noted that amid growing volatility in global trade, Vietnam plays a strategic role within ASEAN, helping South Korea diversify markets and reduce dependence on the US and China.
The Korean government has pledged continued support for mutually beneficial trade cooperation, not only in semiconductors but also in high-demand consumer goods.