S Korea's export volume growth hits four-month high in January

SEOUL, Feb 26 (Xinhua): South Korea's export volume growth hit the highest in four months in January, thanks to the strong demand for semiconductors, central bank data showed Monday.

The export volume index stood at 147.23 in January, up 14.7 per cent from a year earlier, according to the Bank of Korea (BOK). It was the highest increase since September last year, keeping an upward trend for three months in a row.

Demand was robust for locally-made chips, of which export volume jumped 14.8 per cent in January. Export volume for electric and electronic devices, including semiconductors, surged 19.4 per cent.

In terms of volume, cosmetics exports jumped 40.7 per cent, with those for medicine and medical supplies soaring 58 per cent.

The export value index advanced 22.7 per cent in January from a year ago on higher prices of electronic devices and chemicals.

Helped by the expanded export, the country's trade terms improved. The income terms-of-trade index, which means the amount of products capable of being imported with the export proceeds, advanced 13.6 per cent in January.