S. Korea's exports down 14.7% y/y in October amid slowing global trade
  • 4 years ago
Last month, South Korea's exports fell again for the 11th consecutive month.
Korea's trade ministry said that's mainly due to weaker chip exports and the impact of the U.S.-China trade dispute.
Yoon Jung-min has details.
Concerns are growing as South Korea's exports fell again in October for the 11th straight month amid slowing global trade.
Data released by the trade ministry showed on Friday that the country's outbound shipments slumped nearly 15 percent on-year to some 46-billion U.S. dollars in October.
That's the biggest on-year decline this year.
Semiconductor shipments have fallen 32 percent,... while petroleum goods were down 23 percent.
However, exports of ships went up 26 percent. Computer and bio-health product shipments also increased nearly 8 percent in October.
The ministry attributed the fall in exports to sluggish semiconductor demand and the impact of the ongoing trade spat between the U.S. and China.
In fact, the ministry said falling exports are a concern for all major global economies due to rising uncertainties,... such as trade disputes or concerns over a possible no-deal Brexit.
The trade ministry, however, said Japan's recent export restrictions on South Korea have so far had a limited impact on Seoul.
Imports also dropped around 15 percent on-year in October to some 41-billion dollars.
With imports and exports both declining,... the country posted a trade surplus of some 5-point-4 billion dollars.
Yoon Jung-min, Arirang News.
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