SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA / RankWire.AI / – South Korea’s automobile exports rose 7.0% year on year to US$6.24 billion in July 2026. The total marked the highest export value ever recorded for the month of July. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources said exports surpassed the previous July record of US$5.90 billion set in 2023. July 2025 exports totaled US$5.83 billion. Domestic vehicle sales also increased 0.5% to 139,000 units, while production climbed 11.3% to 352,000 vehicles.
South Korea auto exports reached a record July value as eco-friendly vehicle shipments grew. (Credit – Hyundai)
Eco-friendly vehicles provided the strongest lift to South Korea’s auto exports during the month. Their export value increased 25.5% from a year earlier to US$2.59 billion. Electric and hydrogen vehicle exports rose 31.9% to US$940 million. Hybrid exports advanced 22.2% to US$1.65 billion. By contrast, exports of internal combustion engine vehicles fell 3.1% to US$3.65 billion. Eco-friendly models accounted for about 41.5% of the country’s total automobile export value in July.
North America remained the largest regional destination, with exports rising 18.0% to US$3.25 billion. Shipments to the European Union increased 23.5% to US$880 million. Middle East exports rose 12.7% to US$430 million, marking their first year-on-year increase in eight months. Exports to Asia fell 27.1%, while shipments to Central and South America declined 7.4%. The regional data showed the strongest gains in North America, the European Union and the Middle East.
Eco-friendly vehicles lead July export gains
The ministry linked the July export increase to more operating days and continued overseas demand for eco-friendly vehicles and SUVs. Major automakers shifted summer vacation schedules from July in 2025 to August in 2026. That change increased the number of working days during the month. Higher production followed the same calendar effect, with output rising 11.3% year on year to 352,000 vehicles. June production had reached 394,000 vehicles, an increase of 11.6% from a year earlier.
South Korea’s domestic auto market posted a smaller increase than exports and production. Vehicle sales rose 0.5% from July 2025 to 139,000 units. Eco-friendly vehicles accounted for 84,000 domestic sales, or about 60% of the market. Electric vehicle sales increased 47.5% to 36,000 units. Eco-friendly models therefore represented about three of every five vehicles sold domestically during July. Total domestic vehicle sales remained close to their level in the same month a year earlier.
North America and Europe post strong increases
The auto results formed part of a broader increase in South Korean exports during July. Total goods exports reached US$98.89 billion, the second-highest monthly value on record and up 62.8% from a year earlier. Automobiles contributed US$6.24 billion to that total. Semiconductor exports reached US$41.01 billion, while ship exports totaled US$3.29 billion. Nineteen of the country’s 20 main export categories recorded year-on-year growth in July, including automobiles.
The figures came as government and industry representatives met on Aug. 13 to review conditions across the automobile sector. Hyundai Motor, GM Korea, KG Mobility and Renault Korea attended alongside industry and research groups. Participants discussed July auto trends, the transition toward future vehicles and cooperation with parts suppliers. The official July data recorded simultaneous year-on-year gains in automobile exports, domestic vehicle sales and production, with eco-friendly models accounting for a substantial share of both export value and domestic demand.