South Korea’s October exports post worst fall in 26 months

SOUTH KOREA’S exports in October suffered their fastest decline in more than two years and missed expectations as shipments to neighbouring China tumbled, government data showed on Tuesday (Nov 1).

Exports by Asia’s fourth-largest economy fell 5.7 per cent from a year earlier to US$52.48 billion in October, posting their biggest percentage fall since August 2020 and missing a median 3.0 per cent loss tipped in a Reuters survey.

Exports to China, its largest market, fell 15.7 per cent in October from a year earlier as the world’s second-largest economy is slowing from a mix of factors, including its strict restrictions to stop the spread of Covid-19.

South Korea also marked its first annual decline in exports since October 2020. Imports, though, jumped 9.9 per cent to US$59.18 billion, against a 6.9 per cent gain expected in the Reuters poll.

The country posted a trade deficit of US$6.70 billion in October as a result, bigger than a shortfall of US$3.78 billion in September and the seventh consecutive month of imports outweighing exports.

The deficit is likely to further pressure the country’s won currency, already among Asia’s poorest performers this year, down 17 per cent of its value from end-2021 against the dollar. REUTERS