South Korea posted a current account surplus of $10.61 billion in September, the Bank of Korea said on Monday.
That's up from the downwardly revised $8.40 billion surplus in August (originally $8.455 billion).
The goods account surplus widened to $12.06 billion, compared to $8.89 billion in August.
For the period of January through September, the current account surplus is $80.63 billion.
Notwithstanding an improvement in the travel account, the services account deficit widened to $1.73 billion, compared to $1.34 billion the month before, the bank said, as the use of intellectual property account worsened.
The primary income account surplus narrowed from $0.95 billion in August to $0.79 billion in September, due to an increase in payments of the income on equity account.
The secondary income account had a $0.50 billion deficit. The financial account saw a net outflow of $10.60 billion, increased from the $9.15 billion during the previous month.
There was a net outflow of direct investment of $4.66 billion, up sharply from the $0.43 billion outflow in August due to an increase in outward direct investment and a shift to net outflow of foreign direct investment, the bank noted.
Portfolio investment recorded a $4.28 billion net outflow, larger than the $2.54 billion in the month before despite decreased outflows of foreign portfolio investment, as outward portfolio investment expanded greatly.
Financial derivatives posted a net outflow of $1.49 billion.
Other investment shifted to a net inflow of $0.40 billion, from a net outflow of $8.45 billion in August, owing mostly to a shift to net withdrawal of loans by domestic financial institutions.
Reserve assets expanded by $0.57 billion.
For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com
Forex News
April 24, 2026 15:15 ET Economics news flow was relatively light this week even as the conflict in the Middle East continued, raising concerns for policymakers. In the U.S., spending data, initial jobless claims and pending home sales were the highlights. Business confidence in the biggest euro area economy was in focus in Europe. Inflation data from Japan gained attention in Asia.