South Korea posted a record current account surplus of $49.73 billion in June as surging semiconductor exports widened the goods surplus for a second consecutive month, the Bank of Korea (BOK) said Thursday. The goods balance reached $47.89 billion, up from $14.4 billion a year earlier, as exports rose 84.5% to $112.37 billion and imports increased 38.6% to $64.48 billion. The services account recorded a $1.29 billion deficit, while the primary-income balance produced a $3.27 billion surplus.

Customs-based semiconductor exports nearly tripled from a year earlier to $44.95 billion, driving total exports above $100 billion for the first time. The