S. Korea posts trade surplus for 32 months

APD

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South Korea posted a trade surplus for 32 months in a row due to solid export growth, customs data showed Wednesday.

The final figure for trade surplus reached 3.43 billion U.S. dollars in September, staying in the black for the 32nd consecutive month, according to the Korea Customs Service.

Exports, which account for about half of the economy, increased 6.9 percent from a year earlier to 47.75 billion dollars in September, and imports advanced 8 percent to 44.32 billion dollars.

By item, exports of chips, ships and cars jumped 7.4 percent, 23.3 percent and 5.2 percent each last month. Those for telecommunication devices, such as smartphones, reduced 6 percent, with shipments of oil products and auto parts falling 3.3 percent and 1 percent respectively.

Exports to China and the United States, South Korea's top two trading partners, rose 6.5 percent and 19.9 percent each last month. Those to the European Union and Japan declined 5.1 percent and 6.2 percent each.

During the January-September period, the country's trade surplus mounted up to 29.2 billion dollars.