Exports forecast at 6.3 yy in June vs 11.5 in May
Strong chip sales and U.S. demand, but unfavourable calendar effects
Growth rates to slow in H2, but rebound in nonU.S. regions to support economists

SEOUL, June 27 Reuters South Korea39;s exports are expected to have risen for a ninth consecutive month in June, with semiconductor sales to the U.S. leading the increase, although the growth rate likely slowed on calendar effects, a Reuters poll showed on Thursday.

Exports in June from Asia39;s fourthlargest economy are forecast to have risen 6.3 from a year earlier, according to the median estimate of 11 economists in the survey.

That would be weaker than an annual rise of 11.5 in May and the slowest since March, but most economists attributed it to unfavourable calendar effects. There were 21.5 working days in June this year, compared with 23 in the same month last year.

South Korea is the first major exporting economy to report monthly trade figures each month, providing an early glimpse into the state of global demand.

The trend of growing exports likely continued as semiconductor exports remained robust, said Chun Kyuyeon, economist, Hana Securities.

Solid demand in the United States is seen leading demand for South Korean exports, with U.S.bound shipments now accounting for about 20 of the total, Chun said.

In the first 20 days of this month, exports rose 8.5, as shipments of semiconductors jumped 50.2. By destination, exports to the United States rose…