South Korea ranked world’s No. 8 in trade power by achieving record $1.26 trillion in trade turnover and exports of $64.45 billion in 2021, benefiting from accelerated digitalization and migration to green vehicles on top of bio and Korean software demand under pandemic environment.

According to an annual trade report issued by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy on Saturday, Korea’s annual trade value hit historic high of $1.26 trillion, pushing the country’s global rank one notch up to No. 8.

The country’s stellar trade report was mainly driven by its record high exports for 2021.

Korea’s outbound shipments in 2021 jumped 25.8 percent to $644.5 billion, surpassing the previous record of $604.9 billion in 2018 and marking the biggest jump since 2010 when the country’s annual exports added 28.3 percent.

Imports rose 31.5 percent on year to $615 billion in 2021. It is the first time for annual imports to top $600 billion milestone.

Exports of all 15 key items – chips, petrochemicals, and automobiles – grew at double-digit paces last year for the first time since 2000. Especially, outbound shipments of chips and petrochemicals hit new highs, while exports to nine regions including China, U.S., Japan, and India increased.

Korean exports rebounded from a two-year losing streak as the global economy recovered faster than expected from pandemic setback. Exports hit monthly highs throughout the final quarter.

Korea’s outbound shipments hit a fresh monthly high of $60.74 billion in December, up 18.3 percent from the same period a year ago. Monthly exports topped $60 billion for the second month in a row after $60.41 billion in November and extended gains for the 14th month.

The gains in December spread across the board. Exports of 13 out of 15 items, including chips, petrochemicals, and secondary batteries rose, data showed.

Imports, meanwhile, surged faster at 37.4 percent in December from a year ago to $61.32 billion, causing a trade deficit of $590 million. It was the first time for monthly imports to top $60 billion amid a surge in intermediary and capital goods on domestic economic recovery and a boost in exports. Energy imports also rose on rising prices of oil and gas.

The trade feat underpins the country’s rags-to-riches transition.

Korea is the only country among OECD members that has turned itself into an aid provider from an aid receiving country.

By Song Min-geun and Lee Eun-joo

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