S Korea exports jump at fastest pace in 3 months but Omicron worrisome

 

SEOUL :South Korean exports grew at their fastest pace in three months in November thanks to post-pandemic recoveries in major trading partners that pushed up demand for chips and petrochemicals, but the Omicron variant may pose risk to the export-reliant economy.

Exports in November soared 32.1per cent from a year earlier, the sharpest since August and largely beating the 27.7per cent growth seen in a Reuters poll. That also marked a ninth straight month of double-digit expansion.

Total exports stood at US$60.44 billion in November, the largest monthly figure on record, trade ministry data showed.

"Wednesday's export data looks pretty good. Despite worries about easing Chinese demand and a slowdown in semiconductor industry, exports are seen resilient," said Park Sang-hyun, chief economist at Hi Investment & Securities.

"The development of the Omicron variant and supply chain issues are the most important variables to exports, but for now, it looks like the recovery momentum will continue in December and throughout 2022."

Thirteen of 15 major items posted a growth in sales, with those of semiconductors, petrochemicals and vessels surging 40.1per cent, 63.0per cent and 237.6per cent, respectively. Exports of car components slid 2.2per cent as auto chip shortage disrupted global car production.

Meanwhile, exports to all nine major trading partners grew, with those to China, the United States and the European Union rising 27.1per cent, 22.0per cent and 18.9per cent respectively.

Vaccine maker Moderna's chief executive on Tuesday cast doubt on the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines against the variant, spooking financial markets and heightening worries about further supply chain disruption.

South Korea reported a record 5,123 coronavirus cases for Tuesday but no Omicron case has been reported so far.

Wednesday's data also showed imports surged 43.6per cent year-on-year, also beating the forecast of 40.5per cent expansion and standing at US$57.36 billion. That brought the trade surplus to US$3.09 billion.