Total exports in 2017 increased by 15.8% over the previous year to $ 574 billion; Semiconductor exports increased by 57.4% to $ 98 billion, for the first time in a single project annual exports exceeded $ 90 billion. Trade surpluses from the previous year's $ 89 billion To 96 billion U.S. dollars.
In 2017, exports to China increased by 14.2%, exports to Japan increased by 10.1%, surged to 46.3% to Vietnam, a slight increase of 3.2% to the U.S., and the trade surplus with the United States shrank to 18 billion U.S. dollars from the previous year's U.S. $ 23.3 billion.
December exports increased by 8.9% over the same period of last year, lower than the estimated 9.8%; imports increased 13%, greater than the estimated 12%; trade surplus of 5.8 billion.
The Ministry of Trade pointed out that based on the global economic recovery, it is forecasted that trade will continue to prosper in 2018; potential negative factors include the rise of trade protectionism, the appreciation of the won and the rise of international oil prices.