S. Korea's Exports of New-Industry Goods Surge 17% in Q1

South Korea's exports of eight new-industry goods in the first-quarter jumped 17 percent from the previous year to $21 billion despite a drop in overall exports.

The goods include aviation products and drones, biohealth products, electric vehicles, new-energy goods, advanced new materials, next-generation displays, next-generation semiconductors, and robots, according to the Korea International Trade Association (KITA).

On-year, exports of drones and aviation goods surged 38 percent, while that of next-generation chips increased 23 percent. Those of biohealth products rose by nearly 26 percent because of the coronavirus, as electric vehicle exports went up 25 percent.

However, first-quarter exports of robots, new-energy items, and advanced new materials shrank slightly from a year earlier.

South Korea's overall exports dipped 1.4 percent in the first quarter.

KITA forecasted an increased global demand for digital equipment and health care products.