Trade data from South Korea for January 2023

  • exports down 16.6% y/y (expected -11.1%, prior -9.6%)
  • imports down 2.6% y/y (expected -2.6%, prior -2.5%)
  • exports to China down 31.4% y/y
  • semiconductor exports down 44.5% y/y
  • trade balance (prelim) $-12.63bn vs. $-4.69bn in December

Sad numbers indeed.