<Anchor>



The year 2022 is now half over.

According to the economic report card for the first half of this year, the trade deficit exceeded 10 billion dollars.

As of the first half of the year, it is the largest ever.

Exports continue to do well, with imports of energy such as oil and coal increasing significantly.

If this goes on, there is also a forecast that the annual trade balance will record a deficit for the first time since 2008, during the global financial crisis.



Today (1st) the first news, this is reporter Jae Hee-won.



<Reporter>



As shipments of memory semiconductors, a flagship product, increase, Samsung Electronics' second quarter earnings are expected to reach an all-time high.



SK hynix is ​​also expected to see a 40% increase in operating profit compared to the same period last year.



Exports were strong mainly in semiconductors and petrochemicals, recording the highest performance on a semi-annual basis.



However, the trade balance was $10.3 billion, or about 13 trillion won in deficit.



As of the first half of the year, it is the largest ever.



This is because imports rose more steeply as the price of key atomic ash, including energy, jumped.



Imports in the first half were $360.6 billion, up 26.2% from a year ago, outpacing exports, which increased by only 15.6%.



In particular, the sharp jump in the prices of the three major energy sources was a key factor in the trade deficit.



The problem lies in the prevailing prospects for higher energy prices.



[Seung-Hoon Yoo / Professor, Department of Energy Policy, Seoul National University of Science and Technology: Because (energy) production is not increasing.

It is highly likely that the price will go up even more in October.

All energy prices rise, which can be defined as an energy shock.]



Imports of non-ferrous metals and steel, which are used in major industries as well as energy, increased by more than 3 billion dollars.



The price of imported agricultural products, which rose in the aftermath of the war, also contributed to the trade deficit.



With the trade deficit continuing for three months in a row, concerns about an economic slowdown are growing as it is predicted that even exports will be difficult in the second half of the year.



(Video editing: Lee Seung-yeol)