During the month, Korean exporters sold a total of $45.84 billion of goods and services, up 2.6 percent from the same month in 2012. By industrial sector, shipbuilding, semiconductor, info-tech, and chemical industries saw their exports rise while display panels, steel products, and petrochemical products declined from a year ago. By export destination, exports to China, the United States, and the EU rose from the same month last year.

 

Imports have also increased 3.2 percent to $43.3 billion year on year. The items that led the increase were consumer goods, capital goods, and raw materials at 10.7, 4.4, and 1.3 percent respectively. The net outflow of direct investment shrank to $980 million from $1,380 million a year ago. As for portfolio investment, the balance turned to a black of $1.85 billion from a deficit of $5.29 billion a year ago, largely due to a rise in foreign net investment flow.