SEOUL, Apr 21 (NNN-YONHAP) – South Korea’s export grew in double figures, in the first 20 days of this month, showing signs of recovery from the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, customs office data showed today.
Export, which accounts for about half of the South Korean economy, came in at 30.99 billion U.S. dollars, in the Apr 1-20 period, up 45.4 percent from the same period of last year, according to Korea Customs Service.
The daily average export, which excludes the working-day effect, surged 36.0 percent in the 20-day period.
It was mainly attributed to the low base effect, as the outbound shipment tumbled 26.9 percent in the same period of last year, amid the economic downturn from the pandemic.
The country’s export advanced 12.4 percent in Dec last year, 11.4 percent in Jan, 9.5 percent in Feb, and 16.6 percent in Mar respectively, showing signs of recovery from the pandemic.
During the 20-day period of this month, shipment for oil products, auto parts, cars, telecommunication devices and semiconductors, soared in double digits.
Export to China, the United States, the European Union, Vietnam and Japan all surged in double figures.
Import expanded 31.3 percent over the year to 33.01 billion dollars, in the first 20 days of this month, sending the trade deficit to 2.02 billion dollars.– NNN-YONHAP
