AsianFin -- South Korea’s exports rose at their fastest pace in seven months in July, buoyed by robust semiconductor demand and accelerated shipments ahead of higher U.S. tariffs set to take effect later this year.

Overseas shipments climbed 5.9% from a year earlier to $60.82 billion, trade ministry data showed Friday, topping June’s 4.3% gain and marking the strongest monthly performance since December 2024. The figures also beat market expectations, reinforcing South Korea’s status as a bellwether for global trade momentum.

Analysts warn, however, that the front-loading effect may fade in the second half, with rising U.S. trade barriers and global economic uncertainty likely to weigh on outbound shipments.