Export, which accounts for about half of the export-driven economy, gained 4.8 percent from a year earlier to 52.41 billion U.S. dollars in February, keeping an upward trend since October last year, said the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.
Excluding the business day effect, caused by the Lunar New Year's holiday, the daily average export advanced 12.5 percent to 2.56 billion dollars last month.
Import dipped 13.1 percent to 48.11 billion dollars, sending the trade surplus to 4.3 billion dollars. The trade balance stayed in black for nine successive months since June last year.
Of the country's 15 major export items, six products saw an expansion in outbound shipment.
Semiconductor shipment soared 66.7 percent over the year to 9.95 billion dollars in February, maintaining an upward momentum for the fourth straight month.
It marked the fastest increase in over six years since October 2017 on higher memory chip prices and solid demand for mobile and server chips.
Mobile phone export declined 16.5 percent, but display panel shipment jumped 20.2 percent to 1.35 billion dollars on the back of strong demand for high-priced TVs and rising demand for flat screens used for cars.
Computer shipment spiked 18.4 percent to 620 million dollars, continuing to go up for two months in a row owing to higher price for solid state drive.
General machinery shipment kept an upward trend for the 11th consecutive month at 4.49 billion dollars, but those for oil products and petrochemicals retreated in single digits to 4.42 billion dollars and 3.94 billion dollars each.
Automotive export reduced 7.8 percent to 5.16 billion dollars in February, marking the first downturn in 20 months on less working days.
Shipment for steel products and auto parts diminished in single figures to 2.68 billion dollars and 1.98 billion dollars each, while those for home appliances and secondary battery shrank in single digits to 660 million dollars and 700 million dollars respectively.
Export to the United States increased 9.0 percent from a year earlier to 9.8 billion dollars in February, continuing to rise for the seventh consecutive month.
Shipment to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations gained 1.4 percent to 8.56 billion dollars, keeping an upward trend for the fifth straight month.
Export to the European Union declined 8.4 percent to 5.67 billion dollars, but those to Japan and Latin American nations climbed to 2.37 billion dollars and 2.35 billion dollars respectively.
Those to India and the Middle East slipped to 1.47 billion dollars and 1.44 billion dollars each last month.
Regarding import items, crude oil import was up 0.9 percent, but those for natural gas and coal dipped 48.6 percent and 17.3 percent each.
Non-energy import lost 10.0 percent to 36.11 billion dollars in February compared to the same month of last year on lower demand for consumer goods such as cars and mobile phones.
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