September exports reach $4.76 billion, extending trade surplus streak to 48 consecutive months

Passenger cars up 73.9%, ships up 29.8%, driving export growth

South Gyeongsang Province Government headquarters [South Gyeongsang Province]
South Gyeongsang Province Government headquarters [South Gyeongsang Province]

South Gyeongsang Province announced Friday that its exports reached $4.76 billion in September, the highest monthly figure this year, driven by strong shipments of passenger cars and vessels. The province also extended its trade surplus streak to 48 consecutive months.

According to trade data released Friday by the Korea International Trade Association, exports rose 0.04 percent from a year earlier while imports climbed 41.4 percent. Imports totaled $2.6 billion, leaving a trade surplus of $2.16 billion.

Cumulative exports through September stood at $34.72 billion, up 0.6 percent from the same period last year. The cumulative trade surplus for the same period came to $14.87 billion.

By product category, exports of passenger cars rose 73.9 percent, ships 29.8 percent and weapons components 37.1 percent compared with a year earlier. Ship exports were particularly strong, reaching $1.55 billion in September — the highest monthly figure this year — and serving as the primary driver of overall export growth.

By destination, exports to Southeast Asia surged 215.5 percent year-on-year, while shipments to the United States rose 11.2 percent and those to China increased 5.8 percent.

Kim In-su, director general of the province's economy and trade bureau, credited the record performance to local companies' efforts to diversify export markets and expand overseas sales channels.


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