According to preliminary data released by the Korea Customs Service on Monday, outbound shipments for the first 20 days of this month stood at US$43.52 billion, up 23.5 percent from a year earlier, the highest for the period. The previous record was $43 billion, set during the same period in December last year.
Semiconductors led the increase as artificial intelligence (AI)-related demand continued to grow. Chip exports surged 134.1 percent to $15.12 billion, accounting for 34.7 percent of total exports, up 16.4 percentage points from a year earlier.
Exports rose for petroleum products, computer peripherals, ships, and wireless communications equipment, but fell for passenger cars, auto parts, and precision instruments.
By destination, shipments rose to China (up 30.8 percent), the U.S. (up 21.9 percent), Viet Nam (up 17.6 percent), the EU (up 11.4 percent) and Taiwan (up 76.4 percent).
Imports during the period totaled $38.57 billion, up 11.7 percent, led by semiconductors, crude oil, semiconductor manufacturing equipment and gas.
Imports rose from China, the EU, Taiwan and Viet Nam, but declined from Japan and the U.S.
With exports surpassing imports, South Korea posted a trade surplus of $4.95 billion for the period.
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