SEOUL, June 1 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's export hit a record monthly high due to soaring demand for locally-made semiconductors, government data showed Monday.
The outbound shipment, which accounts for about half of the export-driven economy, jumped 53.2 percent from a year earlier to 87.75 billion U.S. dollars in May, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources.
It surpassed the previous high of 87.2 billion dollars tallied in March, topping 80 billion dollars for a third consecutive month.
The daily average export surged 60.7 percent to 4.28 billion dollars, exceeding 4 billion dollars for the first time.
Import gained 20.8 percent to 60.80 billion dollars last month, sending the trade surplus to 26.95 billion dollars.
Of the country's 20 major export items, 12 products saw a growth in outbound shipment.
Semiconductor export skyrocketed 169.4 percent to reach an all-time high of 37.16 billion dollars, topping 30 billion dollars for three straight months.
The soaring chip shipment was driven by a continued rise in fixed memory chip prices amid increased investment in artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure.
Computer export spiked 290.7 percent to 4.18 billion dollars, thanks to robust demand for solid-state drives (SSDs) used in AI servers.
Mobile phone shipment advanced 12.6 percent to 1.46 billion dollars on strong demand for new smartphones, and display panel export expanded 9.4 percent to 1.47 billion dollars.
Automotive export declined 5.9 percent to 5.83 billion dollars owing to fewer working days, partial supply disruption of auto parts, logistics setbacks from the Middle East conflict, and the U.S. tariff imposition.
Export for ships mounted 16.7 percent to 2.61 billion dollars on the back of rising delivery of LNG carriers.
Shipment for oil products grew 46.6 percent to 5.25 billion dollars amid surging oil prices, and petrochemical export swelled 11.1 percent to 3.70 billion dollars.
Dubai crude, South Korea's benchmark, averaged 103.2 dollars per barrel in May, up 61.9 percent compared to the same month of last year.
Steel products export fell 2.1 percent to 2.04 billion dollars on weaker demand for hot-rolled steel and heavy plates, but non-ferrous metal products shipment climbed 41.5 percent to 1.67 billion dollars thanks to strong demand for copper and aluminum used in AI data centers.
General machinery shipment retreated 6.3 percent to 3.82 billion dollars due to the impact of higher logistics costs from the Middle East tensions.
Export to the United States surged 59.1 percent to 15.97 billion dollars on the back of robust demand for chips and computers.
Shipment to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations jumped 58.4 percent to 15.85 billion dollars, while export to the European Union added 2.4 percent to 6.19 billion dollars.
Export to the Middle East declined 7.7 percent to 1.27 billion dollars amid continued geopolitical risks.
Regarding import items, the import of three major energy sources, including crude oil, natural gas and coal, picked up 15.9 percent to 11.75 billion dollars last month.
Non-energy imports advanced 22.0 percent to 49.05 billion dollars on robust demand for semiconductor equipment and oil products. Enditem
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