S.Korea exports rise 52% in first 20 days of July as overseas semiconductor shipments nearly triple

Korea’s exports rose 52.3 percent from a year earlier in the first 20 days of July as overseas shipments of semiconductors nearly tripled due to the ongoing AI boom, customs data showed on Tuesday. Outbound shipments reached $54.9 billion from July 1 to Monday compared to the $36 billion tallied in the same period last year, according to data from the Korea Customs Service. Imports went up 20 percent on year to $42.7 billion over the cited period, resulting in a trade surplus of $12.2 billion. B