[앵커]
Last month, the monthly trade balance recorded a surplus for four consecutive months, and the surplus was also the largest in over two years.
Exports to China are on the rise, and semiconductor exports, which have a significant impact on the overall export flow, are also at their highest level in over a year, raising expectations.
Reporter Lee Dong-woo covered the story.
[기자]
The trade balance in September was a surplus of $3.7 billion, continuing the surplus for four months.
The monthly trade balance had been in deficit for 15 consecutive months since March of last year, but returned to surplus in June of last year, and last month had the largest surplus in over two years.
Exports in September decreased for 12 consecutive months compared to the same month of the previous year, down 4.4% from the same month last year, but the rate of decline was the lowest since October of last year.
The amount of imports decreased by 16.5% compared to the same month last year as energy imports decreased due to the decline in oil prices.
The trade balance in September also resulted in a larger decrease in imports than exports.
[이정환 / 한양대 경제금융대학 교수 : 한국 수출이 전 세계적인 고금리기조, 중국 경제의 둔화 그리고 공급망 재편이라는 어려운 대외 환경 속에서도 4개월 연속 흑자를 기록하고 있다는 것은 참으로 의미 있는 일이라고 할 수 있겠습니다.]
September exports of semiconductors, which have a significant impact on Korea’s overall export flow, reached $9.9 billion, the highest since October last year.
Semiconductor exports are showing signs of recovery after hitting a low point in the first quarter.
Despite concerns about China’s economic slowdown, exports to China reached a record high of $11 billion this year, achieving exports of more than $10 billion for two consecutive months.
[김완기 / 산업부 무역투자실장 : 우리 수출이 플러스 전환의 변곡점에 위치하고 있다고 생각합니다. 앞으로 산업부는 수출 반등을 최우선 순위에 두고 수출 유관부처, 업종별 협·단체 등과 함께 모든 역량을 결집해서 수출을 총력 지원할 계획입니다.]
Ultimately, the recovery of semiconductor exports and the pace of China’s economic slowdown are expected to have the greatest impact on improving the future trade balance.
This is Lee Dong-woo of YTN.
Video editing: Jooyeon Lee
Graphics: Jinho Kim
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2023-10-01 13:15:00
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