Exports likely 1.9 yy in Feb vs 18.0 in Jan
Growth rate distorted by calendar difference
Chip sales lead, other sectors sluggish economists

SEOUL, Feb 28 Reuters South Korea39;s exports likely rose in February for a fifth straight month, led by chip shipments, a Reuters poll showed on Wednesday, in which analysts said much slower growth this month would be largely due to unfavourable calendar effects.

Exports out of Asia39;s fourthlargest economy are expected to have risen 1.9 in February from a year earlier, according to the median estimate of 22 economists in the survey conducted Feb. 2227.

That follows an 18.0 jump in January, which was the fastest since May 2022. Data out of South Korea is often distorted in January and February, due to timing differences in Lunar New Year holidays.

There were less working days in February this year than last year, because the Lunar New Year holiday period was pushed back to February from January.

The improving trend of exports, led by semiconductor exports, is judged to be continuing, said Park Sanghyun, an economist at HI Investment Securities.

There are signs of recovery in shipments to the greater China region, which is another positive signal, Park said.

South Korea39;s exports started to rise slowly from October 2023 after a yearlong downturn, mostly on improving demand for semiconductors, leading uneven economic growth.

In the first 20 days of this month, while exports in total fell 7.8, chip sales jumped 39.1….