Global #1 Export Items
The number of Korean export items that ranked first in world market share in 2013 was 65, increasing from 63 items in the previous year, which also boosted the country two steps into the 12th place from a year ago.
According to Korea's “Exports Competitiveness Reviewed through World Exports Market Number One Items” reported by the Korea International Trade Association on Feb. 5, China's number of first ranked items in the export market in 2013 was 1,538, up 63 from the previous year. It was followed by Germany with 733 items ranking second, the U.S. with 550 items ranking third, and Italy with 216 items ranking fourth.
Japan, which used to be a strong power in the manufacturing sector, ranked fifth, with its #1 items decreasing by 44.
The number of Korean items that maintained the first place in their world export market share for two consecutive years from 2012 was 44, including memory semiconductors, auto parts, and tankers. The number of new items to rank first in 2013 was 21, which came mostly from chemical products and textile goods, including ethylene, polycarbonate, and apparel accessories, but steel and agricultural and marine products stepped down from the number one list.