Mid-sized companies maintained their growth momentum in the second quarter of this year, recording a year-on-year increase in exports of over 10%.

According to the "Q2 2026 Mid-Sized Company Export Trends" report released by the Federation of Korean Medium Enterprises (FKME) today (the 21st), exports by mid-sized companies in the second quarter reached $35.75 billion, up 11.9% from the same period last year ($31.95 billion).

Both the export volume and the growth rate mark all-time highs since statistics began to be compiled in 2022.The second-quarter export figure represents a 14.5% increase compared to the previous first quarter, and exports have exceeded $30 billion for five consecutive quarters.

Mid-sized companies accounted for 13.0% of South Korea's total exports in the second quarter, with the number of exporting mid-sized companies standing at 2,061.

By industry, exports by manufacturing mid-sized companies rose 10.9% to account for the vast majority at $31.19 billion, while the non-manufacturing sector saw an 18.9% increase to $4.56 billion.

In the manufacturing sector, primary metals ($3.36 billion, up 62.2%), medical and precision instruments ($1.04 billion, up 29.6%), and chemical substances ($3.63 billion, up 29.3%) led the export growth.

Exports declined in machinery and equipment ($2.25 billion, down 19.2%) and rubber and plastics ($0.92 billion, down 5.2%).

By product category, bio-health ($1.05 billion, up 77.9%) posted the sharpest increase compared to the same period last year, while petrochemicals ($2.2 billion, up 24.2%), home appliances ($0.34 billion, up 18.9%), computers ($0.06 billion, up 18.4%), and petroleum products ($0.5 billion, up 16.7%) also showed upward trends.

Semiconductors, which recorded the largest export value, rose 10.8% to $7.46 billion.

Among the top 10 major regions, exports increased in 7 regions, including Oceania, Latin America, and ASEAN, while decreasing in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the Middle East, and China.

Kim Hyun-chul, executive vice chairman of the FKME, said, "To sustain the momentum of mid-sized companies' record-high export performance, we will do our utmost to closely communicate with the government and the National Assembly to foster an effective legal, institutional, and policy environment that supports strengthening the global competitiveness of mid-sized companies."

(Photo provided by Federation of Korean Medium Enterprises, Yonhap News)