À̹ÌÁö È®´ë South Korea¡¯s current account surplus rose to an 11-month high in September, mostly because imports stayed subdued due to lackluster domestic demand.
According to preliminary data released by the Bank of Korea on Wednesday, the country recorded a surplus of $7.48 billion in the current account in September. The figure is the largest since October last year and up 41.9 percent from a month earlier. But compared to a year-ago period, it sank 32.06 percent.
Goods surplus nearly doubled to $8.84 billion from the previous month but was modest against $13.01 billion a year earlier. The country¡¯s exports tumbled 10.3 percent on year to $46.01 billion and extended their losing streak to 10 months amid lingering uncertainties in the global market from ongoing U.S-China trade disputes. Imports fell for the fifth month in a row, down 3 percent on year to $37.17 billion.
The deficit in service account came at $2.51 billion, widened from previous month¡¯s $1.80 billion and $2.47 billion posted a year earlier after transportation account swung to a deficit of $320 million from previous year¡¯s $600 million-surplus, offsetting the narrowed deficit in travel account to $780 million from $1.15 billion registered a year earlier on growth in foreign visitors to the country.
À̹ÌÁö È®´ë The surplus in primary income account totaled $1.4 billion, up from $970 million, thanks to Korean companies¡¯ collection of dividends from overseas operations. Income from investment grew to $1.48 billion from previous year¡¯s $1.04 billion.
In the financial account, net assets gained $6.14 billion in September. Koreans¡¯ overseas direct investment grew by $2.28 billion and those made by international investors in Korea were up $40 million. Korean investment in overseas securities expanded $2.30 billion but foreign investment in local securities contracted $610 million, reversing from eight straight months of growth.
By Cho Jeehyun
[¨Ï Pulse by Maeil Business Newspaper & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved]