Korea's trade ministry has released its preliminary data on the country's exports and imports... which show some solid numbers for October.
Kim Hyesung reports.
South Korea's exports hit nearly 55 billion U.S. dollars in October-- the second highest figure since the government began recording related trade data in 1956.
It's also the first time Korea has posted six straight months of exports that top 50 billion dollars.
The Trade Ministry says exports in October grew 22-point-seven percent on-year thanks to solid sales of semiconductors and petroleum products.
Korea's other main exports including autos and auto parts also picked up....while exports of displays, and wireless communications devices fell.
The daily average exports between January and October also hit a record high of 2-point-three billion dollars.
The sharp rebound in the figures following an 8-point-two percent drop in September was largely due to the traditional three-day Chuseok holidays falling in October last year but in September this year.
Removing the holiday effect, the combined September and October exports were up 5-point-7 percent from the same period last year, slowing from a six-point-six percent rise for the first eight months of this year.
Imports jumped near 28 percent on-year, recording over 48 billion dollars... leaving a trade surplus of 6-point-five billion dollars.
Kim Hyesung, Arirang News.