[THE INVESTOR] Overseas sales at 20 of South Korea’s top 30 industrial groups suffered a fall in 2015, according to CEO Score, a website specializing in corporate data. 

A total of 1,022 firms affiliated with the 30 groups saw their combined overseas sales decline 7.4 percent to 586.4 trillion won (US$503 billion) from the previous year, CEO Score said on June 22.

Overseas sales also fell by a larger clip than domestic sales, which dropped by 5.2 percent. 


In particular, companies showed lackluster performance in the areas of IT, energy, shipbuilding and steel -- traditionally the country‘s main drivers of export.

“A combination of factors, such as lower crude oil prices and increased supply and competition from China appear to have contributed to the fall,” said CEO Score.

S-Oil, the nation’s No.3 refiner, suffered the largest 40.8 percent fall, with overseas sales standing at 17.6 trillion won. It was followed by Hyosung, whose sales fell by 36.9 percent, then Lotte with 25.4 percent and GS with 16.8 percent.KCC was next with a 16 percent decline, followed by Hyundai Heavy Industries with 13.6 percent and Kumho Asiana with 9.6 percent.

Among the top four conglomerates, only Hyundai Motor saw its overseas sales rise -- by 2.3 percent -- while Samsung, SK and LG saw declines of 8.9 percent, 6.4 percent and 2 percent, respectively.

On the upside, Shinsegae’s overseas sales surged 768.2 percent, while Hyundai Department saw a 172.9 percent increase, followed by Mirae Asset with 108.8 percent.

Hanwha, thanks to its M&A with Samsung, saw its overseas sales increase by 121.6 percent to 14.3 trillion won in 2015. KT&G and KT saw double-digit sales growth.

Meanwhile, top companies showed an increasing reliance on overseas sales.

Nearly 90 percent of Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering’s sales were from abroad, and 76.3 percent of Hanjin Group‘s sales. More than two-thirds of Samsung and LG’s sales were also from overseas.

By Kim Ji-hyun (jemmie@heraldcorp.com)