Jan exports likely 17.8 yy vs 5.0 in Dec
Growth rate highest in 20 months on calendar effects
Chip sales lead, China demand in slow recovery economists
Imports likely 7.6 vs 10.8, trade balance a marginal surplus

SEOUL, Jan 30 Reuters South Korea39;s exports likely rose for a fourth straight month in January on growing chip sales, with the headline figure pushed up further by calendar effects, a Reuters poll showed on Tuesday.

Exports out of Asia39;s fourthlargest economy are expected to have risen 17.8 in January from a year earlier, faster than a gain of 5.0 in December, according to the median estimate of 17 economists in the survey conducted Jan. 2329.

That would be the biggest annual increase since May 2022 for South Korean exports, which started to rise slowly from October 2023 after a yearlong downturn.

South Korea is the first major economy to report trade figures each month, providing an early gauge for world demand, but its data in January and February is often distorted by timing differences in Lunar New Year holidays.

The Lunar New Year holiday period, which was in January last year, will be in February this year, resulting in more working days and a favourable comparison base for this month.

Korean exports are expected to remain in positive territory for the fourth straight month as semiconductor exports continue to be robust, said Chun Kyuyeon, an economist at Hana Securities.

Solid exports to the United States and improving shipments to China…