SEOUL- South Korean exports recorded weak data in the first 20 days of December but strong demands from China and firm chip prices indicated that year-long loss may come to conclusion soon.
Exports of Asia’s fourth biggest economy declined 2.0% from December 1 to 20, according to customs records disclosed on Monday. Such was the slowest loss in a year and way better than an atrocious 9.6% decline of 20 day period in November.
Daily average exports value, a helpful measure of a near-term trend following calendar adjustments, sunk 5.1% within December 1-20 bracket, an improved record from a 9.6% loss in Nov 1-20 period and the most laudable outcome in nine months.
“Given the increase in exports to China and the slower pace of contraction in chip sales, today’s figure show exports are on the path of recovery,” said Park Sang-hyun, chief economist at Hi Investment & Securities.
China-bound shipments soared 5.3% during the 20-day timeframe. South Korea’s biggest export market acquired more than a quarter of its peers’ overall sales abroad.
Monday’s data came in congruence with majority of analysts’ expectations as South Korean exports would retreat to yearly growth from January, ending consecutive year-on-year inactivity, Park said.
Imports sunk down to 0.5% during the 20-day period, much better than the 11.2% loss in November’s first twenty days. The trade surplus was reduced from $0.55 billion to $0.33 billion during the said bracket.
Overall semiconductor sales, the country’s leading export, shed 16.7% in December’s first twenty days compared to records a year ago, brought by frail data in global prices despite strong volume demand.
South Korea is yet to release trade figures for December on January 1, 2020.
On Friday, the Chinese technology company ByteDance said that it would consider listing its domestic businesses in Hong Kong or Shanghai due to rising Sino-U.S. tensions. The company's standalone listing in Hong Kong or Shanghai might value ...
The Dollar fell to two-year lows on Friday, heading to its lowest decline in 10 years as concerns mounted over the economic recovery of the U.S. amid a second resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Dollar index plunged to 92.777, on course ...
On Wednesday, European stocks rose slightly after mixed earnings reports. However, the new wave of the coronavirus outbreak kept investors cautious while they also wait for the U.S. Federal Reserve’s announcement. The Stoxx Europe 600 ...
Oil prices gained for the third day on Tuesday, supported by a bounce in demand from efforts to lift the U.S. economy as it struggles to recover from the coronavirus pandemic. Prices were also buoyed by a weakening dollar, making it ...
China’s industrial firms had seen an increase in profits for two consecutive months. This came as the most rapid pace ever recorded in over a year, suggesting that the country’s recuperation from the novel coronavirus pandemic ...