South Korea's September exports hit $71.4bn in 20 days, with chips making up almost half
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South Korea exported a record $71.4bn from September 1 through 20, up 78.3 percent from the same period last year, according to provisional Korea Customs Service data.
Semiconductors did most of it. Chip exports reached $34.1bn, up 259.4 percent, and supplied 47.8 percent of the total. Exports to China more than doubled to $16.6bn, while shipments to the United States rose 118.0 percent to $14.2bn.
Imports were $48.4bn. That left a $23.0bn trade surplus.
The comparison had one fewer working day this year, 15.5 against 16.5. Average daily exports still rose 89.8 percent to $4.61bn. The customs service warns that short-period figures can move with the working-day count and may be revised before annual data is finalized.
