S. Korean IT exports fall 19.5 pct in April

By Lee Joon-seung
SEOUL, May 7 (Yonhap) -- South Korean exports of information technology (IT)
products fell 19.5 percent on-year in April as the worldwide economic slump
weakened overseas demand, a government report showed Thursday.
Exports of semiconductors, mobile phones and other IT products reached US$9.47
billion last month, with imports dropping 25.2 percent to $5.08 billion for a
surplus of $4.39 billion, according to the report by the Ministry of Knowledge
Economy.
It said that while outbound shipments have fallen off compared to the year
before, total export volume has increased in the past four months and surpassed
the $9 billion mark for the first time since November.
"Exports growth of mobile phones, semiconductors and display panels remained in
negative territory vis-a-vis 2008 although the extent of the decline has
decreased that may be an indication of some improvement," said Seo Seok-jin, head
of the ministry's IT policy coordination division.
Exports of mobile phones and display panels were down 8.4 percent and 8.5 percent
respectively in the cited month, while semiconductor exports plunged 26.2
percent.
The ministry in charge of the country's industrial policies and trade promotion
said exports to China reached $3.65 billion, followed by $1.43 billion for the
United States and $1.40 billion for the European Union.
Imports of electronic parts and components reached $3.11 billion in April, with
$630 million worth of computers and related products being brought into the
country.
From January through April, IT exports were tallied at $45.20 billion with
imports reaching $25.83 billion for a surplus of $19.37 billion.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
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