Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy

Korea's exports advance 18% in January

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) announced on February 1 that Korea’s export value for January 2024 increased 18.0 percent year-on-year to USD 54.7 billion. Imports decreased 7.8 percent to $54.4 billion and the trade balance stood at a surplus of $0.3 billion.   January monthly exports recorded $54.7 billion (up 18.0 percent), growing for the fourth consecutive month and achieving the first double-digit growth since the 21.4 percent jump made in May 2022. Factoring in the number of working days, the average daily export value for January climbed 5.7 percent to $2.3 billion and monthly shipments gained 14.7 percent, increasing for the fifth consecutive month.   By item, 13 out of 15 major export items increased in exports, recording the highest number of items posting growth since May 2022 when 14 items achieved growth. To note, semiconductors soared 56.2 percent, the biggest climb made in 73 months and advancing for the third consecutive month.   Automotive exports (up 24.8 percent) reached an all-time high for January monthly export value at $6.2 billion, growing for the 19th consecutive month.   General machinery (up 14.5 percent) and home appliances (up 14.2 percent) grew for the 10th and eighth consecutive month, respectively, while displays (up 2.1 percent) and ships (up 76.0 percent) both increased for the sixth consecutive month. Petrochemicals (up 4.0 percent) and bio health (up 3.6 percent) improved for the third consecutive month.   Meanwhile, computers (up 37.2 percent) snapped the losing streak that persisted for 18 months since June 2022, and steel (up 2.0 percent), petroleum products (up 11.8 percent), automotive parts (up 10.8 percent) and textiles (up 8.5 percent) all broke their downward streaks as well.   By destination, eight of the nine major markets saw growth in January. Notably, China and the U.S. surpassed the $10 billion thresholds for the sixth and fifth consecutive month, respectively.   Exports to China (up 16.1 percent) snapped the losing streak for the first time in 20 months with $10.7 billion.   Exports to the U.S. (up 26.9 percent) continued the growth pace for the sixth consecutive month, hitting an all-time high for January monthly value at $10.2 billion.   Meanwhile, exports to India (up 5.6 percent) also amounted to a record-breaking $1.5 billion, and exports to ASEAN (up 5.8 percent) and Japan (up 10.6 percent) both increased for the fourth consecutive month.   Exports to the EU (up 5.2 percent), Latin America (up 28.2 percent) and the Middle East (up 13.9 percent) showed growth as well.   Korea's January imports declined 7.8 percent year-on-year to $54.4 billion. The import of crude oil (up 6.0 percent) increased, but that of gas (down 41.9 percent) and coal (down 8.2 percent) dropped, shrinking overall energy imports by 16.3 percent. Non-energy imports contracted 4.7 percent.   The trade balance stood at a $0.3 billion surplus for January, continuing on the surplus pace for the eighth consecutive month since June 2023. It is noted that every January usually records a steep deficit, but this year’s trade balance improved by $13 billion year-on-year, boosted by strong exports.   * Short version date2024-02-01

MOTIE holds FEZ Future Strategy Forum

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) held the Free Economic Zone (FEZ) Future Strategy Forum on January 31 at the Hotel Koreana in Seoul, where experts and personnel gathered to discuss Korea’s blueprint for FEZs’ future direction and growth.   The first FEZ to take root in Korea, the Incheon FEZ has developed into the nation’s major special economic zone over the last two decades, thanks to the various efforts of the Government, local government bodies and other experts, spawning eight more FEZs to date.   During the presentation session sharing the outcomes of each FEZ, the Ulsan FEZ shared success cases of having sealed the memorandum of understanding (MOU) on a public land reserve project with the Korea Land & Housing Corporation (LH) in March, 2023, which can contribute to the timely supply of industrial land and reducing financial burden from rising land prices. Likewise, other FEZs also shared their experiences of having successfully attracted investment and corporate support among other cases of proactive work achievements.   In the following discussion session, experts presented their policy proposals and panel discussions were held on future project tasks for the third FEZ basic plan, foreign investment facilitation measures and schemes for nurturing an innovative ecosystem.   Kim Hong-joo, Head of the Free Economic Zone Planning Office, stated in the opening message that “amid unstable internal and external conditions, FEZs are called to offer new visions and strategies,” and added that “for the FEZs to grow into global, cutting-edge business hubs in step with local development, the Government and the FEZs will work together as one team to give full policy support for attracting investment and corporate support.” date2024-02-01

Anti-dumping duties on stainless steel bars terminate after 2 decades of imposition

The Korea Trade Commission under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) announced on January 21 that the imposition of anti-dumping duties on Japanese, Indian and Spanish stainless steel bars initiated since July 30, 2004, is to end on January 22, 2024, as SeAH Changwon Integrated Special Steel and other domestic producers have not requested for review. Moreover, as domestic producers have likewise not asked for a review on Taiwanese and Italian stainless steel bars, on which anti-d date2024-01-22

Korea and Indonesia to bolster cooperation in battery supply chain

Trade, Industry and Energy Deputy Trade Minister Yang Byeong-nae met Septian Hario Seto, the Deputy Minister for Indonesia’s Coordinating Ministry for Maritime and Investment Affairs, on January 17 at Signiel Seoul to discuss measures to strengthen economic cooperation between Korea and Indonesia. Viewing that bilateral relations have grown closer than ever through the four summit meetings following President Yoon Suk Yeol’s taking office, Deputy Minister Yang highlighted that he lo date2024-01-17

Minister Ahn visits major semiconductor exporter

Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Dukgeun Ahn visited SK Hynix, a major chip producer in Korea, on January 11 to inspect the semiconductor production lines and listened to difficulties experienced by industry personnel. The meeting was attended by representatives of related institutions and businesses, including the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), K-SURE, Korea Semiconductor Industry Association (KSIA), TEMC and Jusung Engineering. date2024-01-12

Korea Trade Commission launches investigations into alleged patent infringement of Chinese secondary batteries and cathodes

The Korea Trade Commission ('Commission') held the 444th Trade Commission Meeting on January 11 at the Government Complex Sejong for launching investigations on the alleged patent infringement of NCM811 cathode materials produced in China and of smartphones embedded with Chinese secondary batteries. The investigations on the smartphone secondary batteries were requested by another Chinese firm that supplies China-made smartphones and Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., a Japanese importer and date2024-01-12

Semiconductors to spearhead Korea's export growth in 2024

Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Dukgeun Ahn visited SK Hynix, one of Korea’s major semiconductor producers, on January 11 and listened to the challenges experienced by industry personnel and inspected production lines firsthand, refreshing the resolution to promote Korea’s exports this year on the heels of the visit to a major automaker at Pyeongtaek Port on his first outing after taking office. At the conference held at SK Hynix, Minister Ahn stated that “despite the glob date2024-01-11

Minister Ahn visits KITA

Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Dukgeun Ahn visited the Korea International Trade Association (KITA) on January 10 after taking post and held talks with KITA Chairman Koo Ja-yeol to discuss measures for close communication between public and private sectors with top policy priority on promoting exports. date2024-01-11

Minister Ahn makes first stop at KITA in initiating cooperation with leading economic entities

Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Dukgeun Ahn visited the Korea International Trade Association (KITA) on January 10 and held talks with KITA Chairman Koo Ja-yeol. The visit is part of the minister’s aim to strengthen communication with Korea’s six major economic entities after taking post, emphasizing close communication between public and private sectors with utmost policy priority on promoting exports. Minister Ahn noted the need for the public and private sectors to work as &l date2024-01-10

FDI pledges to Korea in 2023 reach an all-time high of $32.7 billion

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on January 3 that the annual foreign direct investment (FDI) pledges reached a new high in 2023 at USD 32.7 billion, marking a 7.5 percent growth from the previous year. The FDIs that actually arrived in Korea over the same period grew by 3.4 percent growth from the previous year to $18.8 billion, also setting a new record. Korea achieved these records despite the poor global FDI performance in 2023 thanks to heavy investments in high tech in date2024-01-05