South Korea's exports ranked ninth largest worldwide last year, three notches up from the previous year, although the global economy suffered a downturn, the country's trade ministry said Tuesday.
The country's exports reached US$364 billion last year, accounting for 2.9 percent of the world total, the ministry said, citing data compiled by
the World Trade Organization (WTO).
China became the world's largest exporter surpassing Germany for the first time. China's exports amounted to $1.202 trillion, making up for 9.6 percent of the global total.
Germany followed in second with $1.121 trillion, or 9 percent. The United States was third with $1.057 trillion, followed by Japan with $581 billion
and the Netherlands with $499 billion.
Meanwhile, South Korea was the world's 12th-largest importer last year with $323 billion, according to the ministry.
The U.S. was the largest importer with $1.604 trillion, trailed by China with $1.006 trillion, Germany with $931 billion and France with $551
billion, the ministry said.