SEOUL, May 1 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's export grew for the seventh successive month in April due to strong global demand for locally-made tech products and automobiles, government data showed Wednesday.
Export, which accounts for about half of the export-driven economy, rose 13.8 percent over the year to 56.26 billion U.S. dollars in April, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.
The outbound shipment kept an upward trend since October last year. The daily average export gained 11.3 percent to 2.45 billion dollars last month.
Import expanded 5.4 percent from a year earlier to 54.73 billion dollars in April, sending the trade surplus to 1.53 billion dollars. The trade balance stayed in black for the 11th consecutive month since June last year.
Of the country's 15 major export items, 13 products saw an increase in outbound shipment.
Semiconductor shipment mounted 56.1 percent over the year to 9.96 billion dollars in April, maintaining an upward momentum for the sixth straight month.
The double-digit expansion was attributed to higher price for memory chips and stronger demand in the overall IT industry.
Display panel export advanced 16.3 percent to 1.43 billion dollars last month on the back of robust demand for flat screens used for cars and the launch of new smartphones and OLED TVs.
Mobile phone export swelled 11.4 percent to 1.15 billion dollars on higher Asian demand, while computer shipment soared 76.2 percent to 790 million dollars on higher price for solid state drive (SSD).
Automotive export increased 10.3 percent to reach a new monthly high of 6.79 billion dollars due to solid demand for expensive eco-friendly vehicles and sport utility vehicle (SUV).
General machinery shipment added 1.5 percent to 4.68 billion dollars in April after declining in double digits in the previous month, while auto parts export climbed 2.9 percent to 1.96 billion dollars.
Shipment for oil products and petrochemicals spiked in double figures to 4.37 billion dollars and 4.29 billion dollars, respectively, amid the higher crude oil prices.
Dubai crude, South Korea's benchmark, averaged 89.2 dollars per barrel in April, up from 84.2 dollars in the previous month.
Export for home appliances and textiles rose in single digit to 740 million dollars and 950 million dollars, respectively, but those for steel products and secondary batteries retreated to 2.82 billion dollars and 620 million dollars, respectively.
Export to the United States jumped 24.3 percent from a year earlier to hit a new record high of 11.41 billion dollars in April, continuing to rise for the ninth consecutive month.
Shipment to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) expanded 10.5 percent to 9.11 billion dollars last month, but export to the European Union (EU) shrank 7.1 percent to 5.65 billion dollars on lower demand for cars and general machinery.
Export to Japan, Latin America and India went up in double digits to 2.45 billion dollars, 2.5 billion dollars and 1.57 billion dollars, respectively.
Regarding import items, the import of three major energy sources, including crude oil, natural gas and coal, gained 14.6 percent over the year to 12.5 billion dollars in April.
Non-energy import grew 2.9 percent to 42.23 billion dollars in April compared to the same month of last year on higher demand for chips and naphtha. ■
