The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy on Sept. 1 said exports last month rose 11.4% year on year to mark a record high for August. Shown are containers on Aug. 1 at the wharf Sinseondae at the Port of Busan. (Yonhap News)

By Hong Angie

Exports in August rose for the 11th consecutive month in a streak dating back to October last year.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy on Sept. 1 released a report on August's export and import trends showing that overseas shipments reached USD 57.9 billion, up 11.4% from the same month last year.

By item, exports of semiconductors rose 38.8% to an August-record USD 11.9 billion.

Those of computers, wireless communication devices and petrochemicals also saw brisk growth.

Computer exports saw a triple-digit jump of 183% to post their 10th consecutive month of growth. Those of wireless communication devices (50.4%) also shot up over 50% for the second straight month and posted their sixth straight month of increase.

Exports grew evenly in eight of the country's nine main global markets. Those to the three leading destinations of the U.S., China and Association of Southeast Asian Nations grew for five consecutive months from April.

Shipments to China grew 7.9% to USD 11.35 billion, their sixth straight month of over USD 10 billion. Those to the U.S. rose 11.1% to an August-record USD 9.96 billion.

Exports to the European Union jumped 16.1% to USD 6.43 billion, returning to surplus after seven months and breaking the previous monthly mark to the region of USD 6.3 billion in March 2021.

Imports last month rose 6% to USD 54.07 billion for a trade surplus of USD 3.83 billion, the 15th consecutive month of finishing in the black.

shong9412@korea.kr