▶Balance of Payments during May 2018 (preliminary)

1. During May 2018 the Korean current account registered a surplus of 8.68 billion dollars.

- The goods account surplus widened to 11.39 billion dollars, compared to its 8.60 billion dollar surplus in May of last year.

- The services account deficit was 2.09 billion dollars, up from its figure of 1.64 billion dollars one year earlier owing to the continuing slump in the travel account and to a deterioration in the manufacturing services account.

- The primary income account reversed from its 0.60 billion dollar deficit in May of 2017 to a surplus of 0.23 billion dollars in May this year, in line with an improvement in the income on equity account.

- The secondary income account showed a 0.84 billion dollar deficit.



2. Looking at the financial account, net assets expanded by 6.86 billion dollars during May.

- Direct investment assets grew by 6.29 billion dollars, and direct investment liabilities by 0.24 billion dollars.

- There was a 3.42 billion dollar increase in portfolio investment assets during the month, and a 3.01 billion dollar expansion in portfolio investment liabilities.

- Financial derivatives posted a net contraction of 0.48 billion dollars.

- In terms of other investment, increases of 4.83 billion dollars in assets and 7.66 billion dollars in liabilities were seen.

- Reserve assets expanded by 3.71 billion dollars.



(Source: The Bank of Korea, 05/07/2018)

[ⓒ Pulse by Maeil Business Newspaper & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved]