Exports in mid-September surpassed 70 billion dollars, marking an all-time high for the same period.

With semiconductor exports surging by nearly 260 percent, their share of total exports neared 48 percent.

According to the Korea Customs Service on September 21, export values from September 1 to 20 (provisional figures based on customs clearance) reached 71.4 billion dollars, up 78.3 percent compared to the same period last year.

This is the largest ever for the period from the 1st to the 20th.

The previous record high was 61.7 billion dollars from June 1 to 20.

Monthly exports last June exceeded 100 billion dollars for the first time in history.

However, as the Chuseok holiday is scheduled for late this month, it remains to be seen whether the upward trend in monthly exports will continue.

The number of working days from the 1st to the 20th of this month was 15.5 days, one day fewer than the same period last year.

Taking this into consideration, the average daily export value was 4.61 billion dollars, an increase of 89.8 percent.

By product category, semiconductor exports surged 259.4 percent to reach 34.12 billion dollars.

This is the largest scale ever recorded for the period from the 1st to the 20th.

The proportion of semiconductors in total exports expanded by 24.1 percentage points from the same period last year to 47.8 percent, also marking an all-time high for the 1st to 20th period.

Petroleum products (47.8 percent) and passenger cars (9.3 percent) also increased, while wireless communication devices decreased slightly (-0.4 percent).

By country, exports to major nations grew evenly, including China (113.8 percent), the United States (118.0 percent), Vietnam (44.8 percent), Taiwan (128.5 percent), and the European Union (37.0 percent).

The proportion of exports to the top three countries—China, the US, and Vietnam—stood at 51.4 percent.

Imports rose 26.7 percent to 48.44 billion dollars.

By product category, imports of semiconductors (88.8 percent), crude oil (37.3 percent), and semiconductor manufacturing equipment (55.6 percent) increased, whereas petroleum products decreased (-24.8 percent).

Energy (crude oil, gas, and coal) import values increased by 27.9 percent.

By country, imports from China (48.7 percent), the European Union (16.7 percent), the United States (29.5 percent), and Japan (31.6 percent) increased, while imports from Australia decreased (-13.7 percent).

With exports outpacing imports, the trade balance recorded a surplus of 23 billion dollars, which is also the largest scale ever for the period from the 1st to the 20th.

(Photo: Yonhap News)