Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy

Exports grow 17.4% to $47.1 billion on record semiconductor sales in August

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on September 1 that Korea’s exports jumped 17.4 percent to USD 47.1 billion in August on record outbound shipments of semiconductors.   Exports expanded at a double-digit rate for the eighth consecutive month for the first time in 71 months since September 2011. The average daily exports rose by 17.4 percent to $2 billion and won-denominated exports surged 19.4 percent to 53.3 trillion won. Both export prices and volume advanced. date2017-09-01

Retail sales advance 3.6% in July

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on August 30 that retail sales advanced 3.6 percent to $10.2 trillion won in July from a year earlier.   Web-based sales, which account for about a third of the total retail sales, rose by 4.4 percent year-on-year, and in-store sales grew 3.2 percent.   Growth in online retail sales moderated after five consecutive months of double-digit expansion due to decrease in revenues of online sales intermediaries. Brick-and-mortar sales date2017-08-30

Special session of KORUS FTA Joint Committee to be held in Seoul

The Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy announced on Aug. 18 that the Ministry and the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) will convene a special session meeting of the Joint Committee under the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA) on August 22 in Seoul.   Trade Minister Kim Hyun-chong and USTR Robert Lighthizer will open the meeting via videoconference, which will be followed by senior-level discussions in Seoul. USTR Chief of Staff Jamieson Greer and Assis date2017-08-18

Auto production, exports grow in July

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on August 10 that Korea’s automotive industry posted growth in exports as well as domestic production and sales.   Exports rose by 5.1 percent to 228,229 vehicles in July from a year ago on strong sales in Europe. Shipments of automobiles to the European Union surged 26.3 percent to $653 million, and those to the rest of Europe jumped 20.6 percent to $213 million.    Five domestic automotive makers, Hyundai Motor, Kia date2017-08-10

ICT exports reach record high for July

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on August 9 that exports of information and communication technology (ICT) goods jumped 20.9 percent to $15.7 billion in July, setting a new record for the month.    Korea has posted record-high exports for each month for six consecutive months since February. A significant expansion in semiconductor exports as well as double-digit increases in shipments to major markets including China, Vietnam, the U.S., and the European Union (E date2017-08-09

Korea’s exports surge 19.5% to $48.9 billion in July

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on August 1 that Korea’s exports expanded 19.5 percent to USD 48.9 billion in July as outbound shipments of high-value products significantly rose and markets diversified.    Exports grew at a double-digit rate for the seventh consecutive month for the first time in 70 months since September 2011. The average daily exports went up 19.5 percent to $2.1 billion, while won-denominated exports surged 18.5 percent to $55.4 trillio date2017-08-01

Retail sales jump 7.2% on fast e-commerce growth in June

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on July 28 that retail sales jumped 7.2 percent in June, led by the fast growth of e-commerce.   Online retail sales, which account for about a third of the total retail sales, jumped 13.6 percent year-on-year in June as various promotions by retailers helped drive up food and clothing sales. Revenues generated from physical stores rose by 4.2 percent on higher grocery prices.    In the first half of 2017, retail sales advan date2017-07-28

Material, component exports jump 10.5% to $134.4 billion in 1st half

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on July 19 that exports of industrial materials and components jumped 10.5 percent to USD 134.4 billion in the first half, marking the first double-digit growth in six years since the second half of 2011.    Outbound shipments of 12 types of materials and components surged 10.3 percent to $68.6 billion in the second quarter from a year earlier and expanded 10.7 percent to $65.8 billion in the first quarter.    Both expo date2017-07-19