SEOUL, April 21 ― South Korean exports plunged nearly 27 per cent in the first 20 days of April as the coronavirus pandemic paralysed global manufacturing activity and crushed consumer demand.
The worst may be yet to come with many of the countries top trading partners still in lockdowns to contain the virus' spread. Monthly trade data from Asia's fourth-largest economy is considered a bellwether for world trade as it is the first to be released among major exporting nations.
Shipments fell 26.9 per cent from a year earlier, sharply reversing 9.3 per cent growth in the March 1-20 period, the Korea Customs Service data showed today.
Imports sank 18.6 per cent, compared with a 4.0 per cent rise in the previous month.
“Today's data come as the global economy is in a bad shape, while shutdowns in car component factories abroad and a price plunge in petrochemical products have had a negative impact,” a customs agency official told Reuters.
A breakdown of the trade data showed overseas sales of semiconductors, the nation's top-selling item, tumbled 14.9 per cent, while those of petrochemical products, car components and wireless devices plummeted 53.5 per cent, 49.8 per cent and 30.7 per cent, respectively.
By destination, shipments to the biggest trading partner China fell 17.0 per cent, even as factories there resumed operations, while those to the United States and the European Union slumped 17.5 per cent and 32.6 per cent, respectively
“The trend in exports slump could continue through June ... It will take a while for the United States and Europe to resume economic activities, while not only the volume of exports but a significant price drop of the goods are a great concern,” said Park Sang-hyun, chief economist at Hi Investment & Securities.
“Uncertainties for an export rebound in the third quarter remain high,” Park added.
The spread of the coronavirus has been slowing in major economies, prompting debate over whether to ease tough anti-virus measures, but the peak of the outbreak still lays ahead as reported cases surpassed 2.41 million globally, according to a Reuters tally.
Businesses have been paralysed as lockdowns across the globe knocked demand and disrupted manufacturing and global supply chains.
During the global financial crisis of 2008, South Korea still managed 0.8 per cent growth but it contracted 5.1 per cent in 1998 during the Asian financial crisis.
Preliminary first quarter GDP data on Thursday is expected to show growth halved to just over 1 per cent from a year earlier. A growing number of economists now expect the South Korean economy to contract this year along with the global economy, with the International Monetary Fund seeing a 1.2 per cent drop.
The trade ministry is expected to release the data for full month at 0000 GMT on May 1. ― Reuters
