South Korea’s export boom stays strong ahead of central bank rate decision - The Straits Times

On an unadjusted basis, shipments gained 105.4%, while imports rose 42.8%, resulting in a trade surplus of US$14.5 billion (S$18.5 billion). SEOUL – South Korea’s exports maintained strong growth in early October as booming global demand for artificial intelligence fuelled semiconductor shipments, underscoring the economy’s resilience on the eve of the central bank’s interest-rate decision. Exports adjusted for working-day differences rose 65.9% from a year earlier in the first 20 days of October, according to customs office data released on Oct 21 . That compared with an 89.8% increase during the same period in September. On an unadjusted basis, shipments gained 105.4%, while imports rose 42.8%, resulting in a trade surplus of US$14.5 billion (S$18.