Exports reached $102.25 billion in June, up 70.9 percent from a year earlier, of which semiconductors reached $44.82 billion, nearly tripled on year, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Resources.
It marked the first time Korea’s monthly exports exceeded the $100 billion threshold, and the first time chip shipments topped $40 billion on monthly basis.
IT shipments that include chips hit $54.1 billion, up 308.8 percent on year.
Imports rose 30.1 percent on year to $66.10 billion, bringing the trade surplus to a record $36.15 billion.
The data showed Korea’s trade account remained in large surplus despite a sharp rise in imports, underscoring the strength of export growth rather than a decline in inbound shipments.
For the first half of the year, exports rose 48.4 percent from a year earlier to $496.71 billion, raising expectations for $1 trillion annual record.
Imports increased 16.6 percent to $358.39 billion over the same period.
The cumulative trade surplus for January to June stood at $138.32 billion.
The June figures also showed record strength on a daily basis.
Average daily exports, adjusted for working days, reached $4.54 billion, up 59.5 percent from a year earlier.
There were 22.5 working days in June this year, compared with 21.0 days a year earlier.
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