Exports reached $62.0 billion from June 1 to 20, marking the "highest ever" for the same period. Semiconductor exports, which also hit a record high for the period, drove the performance.
The Korea Customs Service said on the 22nd that exports from the 1st to 20th of this month were $62.0 billion, up 60.4% from a year earlier. This is the first time exports have exceeded $60.0 billion for the 1st–20th period. The previous record was $54.3 billion set in March.
Average daily exports, adjusted for working days, were $4.13 billion, up nearly 50% from a year earlier.
Semiconductors accounted for 41.2% of total exports. Their share of exports rose 18.3 percentage points from last year's 22.9%. Semiconductor exports surged 188.4% to $25.5 billion from the same period a year earlier. In addition, passenger cars were $3.74 billion, petroleum products were $3.68 billion, and computer peripherals were $3.07 billion. They increased 2.3%, 39%, and 293.3%, respectively.
Exports to China rose 86.9% to $13.05 billion. China was the largest in export value, growth rate, and export share (21.1%). The United States ($11.4 billion, up 53.9%), Vietnam ($5.93 billion, up 75.5%), and the European Union (EU; $4.65 billion, up 13.6%) followed.
Imports were $44.5 billion, up 23.2%. Energy imports, including crude oil, gas, and coal, rose 19.9%. As a result, the trade balance, exports minus imports, posted a surplus of $17.5 billion. On a year-to-date basis, the surplus was $119.67 billion.