Fueled by the strong demand for semiconductors and automobiles, South Korea's export performance stayed vigorous in November, bolstering the confidence of policymakers. After factoring in the differences in the number of working days, South Korea's export value in November posted a 13.3% year-on-year increase. Meanwhile, the overall export value, without such adjustments, rose by 8.4% year-on-year. During the same timeframe, the import value climbed by 1.2% year-on-year, leading to a trade surplus of $9.7 billion. Particularly noteworthy is the nearly 39% year-on-year surge in semiconductor exports, along with a nearly 14% growth in automobile exports. These strong showings effectively counterbalanced the impact of slower growth in sectors like petrochemicals.
