{
  "id": 2261252,
  "title": "Exports up 56 % in first 20 days of Aug. on robust chip shipments",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/21/exports-up-56-in-first-20-days-of-aug-on-robust-chip-shipments-2261252",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-21T00:37:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times-koreatimes",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/economy/20260821/exports-up-56-in-first-20-days-of-aug-on-robust-chip-shipments"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Korea's exports jumped 56% from the previous year in the first 20 days of August, according to customs figures released on Friday. Semiconductor shipments hit a record high during this period. Total outbound shipments amounted to $55.2 billion, marking the highest level for any 20-day span in August. Imports rose by 19% compared to the same period last year, totaling $41.2 billion. This resulted in a trade surplus of $14 billion.\n\nThe customs agency highlighted that daily average exports surged 61.5% year-on-year, reaching $3.94 billion. Semiconductors alone accounted for nearly triple the exports at $26 billion, representing the highest amount for the period. They comprised 47.2% of total exports, up 22.5 percentage points from a year earlier. Petroleum product shipments expanded by 56.4% to $4.23 billion, while steel exports increased by 9.7% to $2.39 billion. Automobile exports, however, fell by 45.1% to $1.52 billion.\n\nExport figures to China more than doubled to $15.26 billion, while shipments to the United States declined slightly.",
  "summary": "Korea's exports surged 56 percent from a year earlier over the first 20 days of August, customs data showed Friday, with shipments of semiconductors reaching a fresh high. Outbound shipments reached $55.2 billion in the Aug. 1-20 period, according to data from the Korea Customs Service. It was the highest level for the 20-day period for any August. Imports went up 19 percent on-year to $41.2…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Yonhap News",
        "title": "(LEAD) Exports up 56 pct in first 20 days of Aug. on robust chip shipments",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/21/lead-exports-up-56-pct-in-first-20-days-of-aug-on-robust-chip",
        "published": "2026-08-21T00:21:36.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Exports up 56 % in first 20 days of Aug. on robust chip shipments",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/21/exports-up-56-in-first-20-days-of-aug-on-robust-chip-shipments",
        "published": "2026-08-21T00:32:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}