South Korea’s exports grew in double digits in the first 20 days of March due to soaring demand for locally-made semiconductors, customs office data showed Monday.
Outbound shipment jumped 50.4 percent from a year earlier to 53.30 billion U.S. dollars in the March 1-20 period, according to the Korea Customs Service.
Semiconductor exports more than doubled to 18.66 billion dollars, and automotive shipment mounted 11.1 percent to 3.66 billion dollars.
Exports for oil products, steel products, mobile devices and home appliances swelled in double figures, and shipments for computers surged in triple digits.
Imports gained 19.7 percent from a year ago to 41.17 billion dollars in the first 20 days of March, sending the trade surplus to 12.13 billion dollars.
Imports for crude oil, coal, chips, semiconductor equipment, precision machinery, and mobile devices posted a double-digit growth in the cited period.
