SEOUL: South Korea’s exports fell last year at their fastest rate since the global financial crisis, with 12 straight monthly declines fuelled by a strong won and plunging oil prices.
The government data published Friday is a grim annual report for a country whose exports account for roughly half of its economic output.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said exports were down 7.9 percent from the previous year at $527.2 billion — the sharpest annual decline since 2009.
Outbound shipments plunged 13.8 percent in December alone, the ministry said.
A host of factors have contributed to the export downturn, including the rise of the South Korean won against Japan’s yen.
Low global oil prices have also been a major factor, hitting petroleum products that are a crucial export for Asia’s fourth largest economy.
Exports of oil and petrochemical products dropped 37 percent and 21 percent respectively in 2015, the ministry said.
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