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Overseas sales by Asia's fourth-largest economy rose 13.8% from
the same month a year earlier to $56.26 billion, a bit higher
than a rise of 13.7% tipped in a Reuters survey of economists.
It came after a 3.1% rise in the prior month, which was the
slowest in the current run of gains that started in October.
Finance minister Choi Sang-mok said the data confirmed that an
economic recovery was continuing, after the trade-reliant
economy grew in the first quarter at the fastest pace in more
than two years, beating estimates.
Exports of chips grew for a sixth consecutive month, rising
56.1%, along with gains across IT products, while sales of
automobiles climbed 10.3% to post the highest-ever monthly
export value of $6.79 billion.
By destination, exports to the United States extended gains for
a ninth straight month, rising 24.3% to a record high of $11.4
billion, and China-bound shipments jumped 9.9%, sharply up from
a 0.4% rise in the prior month.
Imports rose 5.4% in April to $54.73 billion, after a 12.3% drop
in March and compared with a gain of 6.2% expected by
economists. It was the first increase since February 2023.
As a result, the country posted a trade surplus of $1.53 billion
in April, narrower than a $4.29 billion surplus in March.
(Reporting by Jihoon Lee; Editing by Sam Holmes)
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