SEOUL, Nov. 2 (EconoTimes) — DHL Group Chief Executive Tobias Meyer said South Korea could benefit if companies diversify supply chains, as October semiconductor exports rose 259.4%, in an interview reported by The Korea Herald.
South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources said exports totaled $115.28 billion in October, up 93.7% from a year earlier. Semiconductor shipments reached $56.44 billion. Total exports were the country’s second-highest monthly figure on record, behind September.
The World Trade Organization said semiconductors, servers and other goods used to enable artificial intelligence accounted for 47% of global merchandise trade growth in the first half of 2026. Trade in those goods grew 67% year over year. The WTO forecasts merchandise trade volume growth of 3.9% in 2026 and 4.1% in 2027.
The Korea Herald reported that DHL already transports time-sensitive wafer samples and emergency spare parts in South Korea. Meyer identified potential opportunities in inventory management, bulk air freight, advanced-packaging transport and data-center logistics. The interview reported no new contract or investment tied to those possibilities.
Meyer described a possible market for DHL if Korean industrial companies move logistics tasks they currently handle themselves to outside providers, The Korea Herald reported. He said outsourcing could help firms focus on core operations and use capital efficiently. Meyer also acknowledged that operating factories across several countries adds costs, while arguing that greater resilience could justify the expense. He advised companies to “create optionality” by using suppliers in multiple locations.
South Korean exports to China rose 133.6% to $26.98 billion in October, according to the ministry. October’s figures alone cannot establish the direction of South Korea’s longer-term trade dependence on China.
DHL’s 2026 Global Connectedness Report said global goods trade grew faster in 2025 than in any year since 2017, excluding the pandemic rebound. It projects average annual growth of 2.6% in goods trade from 2026 through 2029.
The ministry said South Korea could reach $1 trillion in exports in November if the current pace continues. That remains a government projection; November’s trade figures will show whether the pace holds.
