SEOUL, Feb. 15 (Xinhua) -- South Korea logged trade deficit for two straight months in January due to faster growth in import than export, customs office data showed Tuesday.
Revised data for trade deficit amounted to 4.8 billion U.S. dollars in January, after recording a deficit of 426 million dollars in the previous month, according to Korea Customs Service.
Export advanced 15.2 percent from a year earlier to 55.3 billion dollars last month, while import soared 35.3 percent to 60.1 billion dollars.
The outbound shipment topped 50 billion dollars for the 11th consecutive month due to strong demand for locally-made products, such as semiconductors and oil products.
Chip export jumped 23.7 percent in January from a year earlier, and oil products shipment surged 87.1 percent.
Export for cars, auto parts, and home appliances gained ground last month, but mobile phone shipment diminished in double figures.
Import for raw materials, including crude oil and natural gas, spiked 67.4 percent in January on a yearly basis.
Import for consumer and capital goods increased by 17.2 percent and 6.8 percent, respectively, last month. ■