Export down 0.2% from 1st to 20th... Semiconductor exports rose but passenger cars and ships declined (Update)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bo-kyung] South Korea's exports have decreased by 0.2% compared to the same period last year over the past 20 days this year. As a result, the export performance for January is also likely to record a negative figure.

According to the Korea Customs Service on the 21st, the export amount from the 1st to the 20th of this month (provisional customs clearance basis) recorded $25.7 billion, a 0.2% (-$40 million) decrease compared to the same period last year.

The number of working days during this period was 14.5, the same as last year. Considering the number of working days, the average daily export amount was $1.77 billion, a slight decrease of 0.2% compared to the previous year.

By item, exports of semiconductors (8.7%) and petroleum products (19.3%) increased, while exports of passenger cars (-6.8%), wireless communication devices (-6.2%), and ships (-42.1%) decreased.

By export destination, exports to Vietnam (6.7%), Japan (5.6%), Hong Kong (9.9%), and the Middle East (35.0%) increased, but exports to China (-4.7%), the United States (-4.9%), the EU (-4.3%), and Singapore (-15.8%) decreased.

During the same period, imports amounted to $28.1 billion, an increase of 3.0% ($830 million) compared to the same period last year, resulting in a trade deficit of approximately $2.5 billion.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.