Exports up 65% during first 20 days of May on chips - The Korea Times

Workers at Samsung Electronics' chip production line in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province / Courtesy of Samsung Electronics

Korea's exports rose 65 percent from a year earlier in the first 20 days of May, data showed Thursday, with semiconductor shipments more than tripling over the period.

Outbound shipments reached $52.7 billion in the May 1-20 period, compared with $31.9 billion tallied in the same period last year, according to data released by the Korea Customs Service.

The figure was the largest ever recorded for the first 20 days of May.

Imports went up 29.3 percent on-year to $41.6 billion over the cited period, resulting in a trade surplus of $11 billion.