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South Korea Trade Surplus Largest in 3 Months
South Korea's trade surplus increased to USD 6.94 billion in December 2020 from USD 1.98 billion in the same month a year earlier, a preliminary estimate showed. This was the largest trade surplus since September, as exports jumped 12.6 percent from a year earlier to USD 51.4 billion while imports rose at a softer 1.8 percent to USD 44.4 billion, amid the coronavirus pandemic. Considering the whole year of 2020, exports declined 5.4 percent from a year earlier to USD 512.8 billion, while imports dropped 7.2 percent to USD 467.2 billion, bringing a trade surplus of USD 45.6 billion.
Published on 2021-01-01

South Korea November Trade Surplus Widens
South Korea's trade surplus increased to USD 5.93 billion in November 2020 from USD 3.31 billion in the same month a year earlier, a preliminary estimate showed. Exports rose 4 percent from a year earlier to USD 45.81 billion, while imports declined 2.1 percent to USD 39.88 billion, amid the coronavirus pandemic. Considering the first eleven months of 2020, the surplus widened to USD 39.62 billion from USD 36.91 billion in the same period of 2019.
Published on 2020-12-01

South Korea Trade Surplus Widens in October
South Korea's trade surplus increased to USD 5.98 billion in October 2020 from USD 5.25 billion in the same month a year earlier, a preliminary estimate showed. Exports fell 3.6 percent from a year earlier to USD 44.9 billion, while imports dropped 5.8 percent to USD 39 billion, amid the coronavirus pandemic. Considering the first ten months of 2020, the surplus widened slightly to USD 33.69 billion from USD 33.60 billion in the same period of 2019.
Published on 2020-11-01

South Korea Trade Surplus Widens in September
South Korea's trade surplus increased to USD 8.88 billion in September 2020 from USD 5.89 billion in the same month a year earlier, a preliminary estimate showed. Exports (+7.7% YoY) and imports (+1.1% YoY) grew for the first time in seven months and beat market expectations as global demand picked up at the of the third quarter. Considering the first nine months of 2020, the surplus narrowed modestly to USD 27.90 billion from USD 28.35 billion in the same period of 2019.
Published on 2020-10-01

South Korea Trade Surplus Widens
South Korea's trade surplus increased to USD 4.12 billion in August 2020 from USD 1.56 billion in the same month a year earlier, a preliminary estimate showed. Exports and imports declined for a sixth consecutive month as the coronavirus crisis continued to weigh on global demand. Considering the first eight months of 2020, the surplus narrowed to USD 19.29 billion from USD 22.46 billion in the same period of 2019.
Published on 2020-09-01

South Korea Trade Surplus Widens in July
South Korea's trade surplus increased to USD 4.27 billion in July 2020 from USD 2.32 billion in the same month a year earlier, following the reopening of the economy, a preliminary estimate showed. Exports dropped 7 percent after falling 10.9 percent in the previous month, while imports plunged 11.9 percent after declining 11.4 percent. Considering the first seven months of 2020, the surplus narrowed to USD 15.1 billion from USD 20.9 billion in the same period of 2019.
Published on 2020-08-01

South Korea Trade Surplus Narrows in June
South Korea's trade surplus decreased to USD 3.67 billion in June 2020 from USD 3.90 billion in the same month a year earlier, a preliminary estimate showed. Exports tumbled 10.9 percent after declining 23.7 percent in the previous month to the lowest level in over a decade, while imports plunged 11.4 percent after decreasing 21.1 percent to a three-and-a-half-year low. Considering the first six months of 2020, the surplus narrowed to USD 11.03 billion from USD 18.58 billion.
Published on 2020-07-01

South Korea Trade Surplus Narrows in May
South Korea's trade surplus decreased to USD 0.44 billion in May 2020 from USD 2.08 billion in the same month a year earlier, a preliminary estimate showed. Exports tumbled 23.7 percent to the lowest level in over a decade, while imports plunged 21.1 percent to a three-and-a-half-year low. Considering the first five months of the year, the trade surplus narrowed sharply to USD 7.36 billion from USD 14.68 billion in the corresponding period of 2019.
Published on 2020-06-01

South Korea Posts Trade Gap for First Time in Over 8 Years
South Korea reported a trade deficit of USD 0.95 billion in April of 2020, shifting from a surplus of USD 3.73 billion in the same month a year earlier, a preliminary estimate showed. This was the first trade gap since January 2012, reflecting damage caused by the COVID-19 crisis and a crash in the global oil market. Year-on-year, exports plunged 24.3 percent to USD 36.92 billion, the smallest figure since February 2016; while imports tumbled 15.9 percent to USD 37.87 billion. Considering the first four months of the year, the country posted a trade surplus of USD 8.53 billion, narrowing from a USD 12.59 billion surplus in the corresponding period of 2019.
Published on 2020-05-01

South Korea Trade Surplus Little-Changed in March
South Korea's trade surplus was USD 5.04 billion in March 2020, little-changed from last year's USD 5.01 billion, a preliminary estimate showed. Both exports and imports fell, defying markets that had forecast increases. Considering the first three months of the year, the trade surplus increased to USD 9.48 billion from USD 8.86 billion in the corresponding period of 2019.
Published on 2020-04-01

South Korea Trade Surplus Largest in 4 Months
South Korea's trade surplus widened to USD 4.1 billion in February 2020 from USD 2.8 billion in the same month of the previous year, a preliminary estimate showed. This was the largest trade surplus since October last year as exports rose 4.5 percent, the first month of increase in 15 months despite the outbreak of the new coronavirus, due to the timing of the Lunar New Year holiday which added three business days to the month this year. There were increases in sales of semiconductors (9.4 percent), computers (89.2 percent), wireless communication devices (8.0 percent), and textiles (19.8 percent). Meanwhile, imports advanced at a softer 1.4 percent.
Published on 2020-03-01

South Korea Trade Surplus Narrows to 7-Year Low
South Korea's trade surplus narrowed to USD 0.62 billion in January 2020 from USD 1.04 billion in the same month of the previous year, preliminary data showed. This was the smallest trade surplus in seven years, as exports tumbled 6.1 percent from a year earlier to USD 43.3 billion, amid fewer working days due to the Lunar New Year holidays and worsening sentiment over the new coronavirus. Sales dropped for secondary batteries (-13.5 percent) and chips (-3.4 percent). By destination, exports went down to the Middle East (-9.9 percent) and the EU (-16.2 percent). Imports fell 5.3 percent to USD 42.7 billion, led by the declines in bituminous coal, semiconductor manufacturing equipment, and gasoline passenger vehicles.
Published on 2020-02-01

South Korea Trade Surplus Narrows in December
South Korea's trade surplus narrowed to USD 2.02 billion in December 2019 from USD 4.18 billion in the same month a year earlier, preliminary data showed. This was the smallest trade surplus since August, as exports tumbled 5.2 percent, largely due to the US-China conflict, but fell less compared to an annual 14.4 percent decline in November. Meanwhile, imports dropped at a softer much softer pace of 0.7 percent compared to a 13.0 percent plunge in the previous month. Considering 2019 full year, the trade surplus narrowed sharply to USD 39.19 billion from USD 69.66 billion in 2018.
Published on 2020-01-01

South Korea Posts Smallest Trade Surplus in 3 Months
South Korea's trade surplus narrowed to USD 3.37 billion in November 2019 from USD 4.67 billion in the same month a year earlier, preliminary data showed. This was the smallest trade surplus since August, as exports tumbled 14.3 percent, largely due due to the US-China conflict, and an extended plunge in semiconductor prices. Meanwhile, imports dropped at a softer 13.0 percent.
Published on 2019-12-01

South Korea Trade Surplus Narrows in October
South Korea's trade surplus narrowed to USD 5.39 billion in October 2019 from USD 6.38 billion in the same month a year earlier and compared to market expectations of a 3.51 billion surplus, preliminary data showed. Exports tumbled 14.7 percent, the biggest fall in nearly four years, largely due to the US-China conflict, as well as the stagnant semiconductor sector and a slowdown in the global economy. Meanwhile, imports dropped 14.6 percent.
Published on 2019-11-01

South Korea Trade Surplus Narrows Sharply
South Korea's trade surplus narrowed to USD 5.97 billion in September 2019 from USD 9.62 billion in the same month a year earlier, a preliminary data showed. Exports tumbled 11.7 percent amid deteriorating external conditions, including the US-China trade tensions. Meanwhile, imports dropped 5.6 percent. Considering the first nine months of 2019, the trade surplus narrowed sharply to USD 28.80 billion from USD 54.43 billion in the corresponding period the prior year.
Published on 2019-10-01

South Korea Trade Surplus Smallest in 7 Months
South Korea's trade surplus plunged to USD 1.72 billion in August 2019 from USD 6.82 billion in the same month a year earlier, a preliminary data showed. This was the smallest trade surplus since January, as exports tumbled 13.6 percent amid deteriorating external conditions, including the US-China trade tensions and disputes with Japan. Meanwhile, imports slumped 4.2 percent. Considering the first eight months of 2019, the trade surplus narrowed sharply to USD 23.16 billion from USD 44.81 billion in the corresponding period the prior year.
Published on 2019-09-01

South Korea Trade Surplus Narrows as Exports Slump
South Korea's trade surplus narrowed sharply to USD 2.44 billion in July 2019 from USD 6.89 billion in the same month last year as exports tumbled 11 percent on the back of US-China trade dispute and Japan's exports restrictions, while imports declined at a softer 2.7 percent. Considering January to July, the trade surplus shrank to USD 21.64 billion from USD 37.99 billion in the same period of 2018.
Published on 2019-08-01

South Korea Trade Surplus Narrows Sharply in June
South Korea’s trade surplus narrowed to USD 4.17 billion in June 2019 from USD 6.08 billion in the same month a year earlier, a preliminary data showed, as exports fell more than imports, amid weakening global demand. Exports declined 13.5 percent year-on-year to USD 44.18 billion, worse than market consensus of a 12 percent decrease and faster than an upwardly revised 9.5 percent fall in May. Imports dropped 11.1 percent to USD 40.01 billion, accelerating from a marginally revised 1.8 percent fall in the previous month and compared with market consensus of a 10.1 percent decline. For the first half of the year, the trade surplus narrowed sharply to USD 19.5 billion from USD 37.2 billion in the corresponding period of 2018, as exports fell 8.4 percent on year to USD 271.5 billion while imports declined at a softer 5.1 percent to USD 252 billion.
Published on 2019-06-30

South Korea Trade Surplus Far Below Estimates in May
South Korea’s trade surplus plunged to USD 2.27 billion in May 2019 from USD 6.23 billion in the same month a year earlier and missing market expectations of a surplus of USD 5.07 billion, a preliminary data showed. This was the smallest trade surplus since January, mainly due to a slump in exports, amid weakening global demand and the prolonged Sino-US trade dispute as well as Brexit uncertainties. The latest data came in hours after US President Donald threatened to impose tariffs on all Mexican imports from June 10 in an attempt to reduce the flow of illegal migrants, prompting fears of recession in the major economies. Considering the first five months of the year, the trade surplus narrowed sharply to USD 15.6 billion from USD 25.02 billion in the corresponding period 2018.
Published on 2019-06-01