(LEAD) S. Korea's trade surplus tops US$1 bln in first 20 days of Sept.

(ATTN: ADDS information in paras 5-7, 9)
SEOUL, Sept. 21 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's trade surplus exceeded US$1 billion in
the first 20 days of this month as exports dropped at a far slower pace than
imports, the customs office said Monday.

Exports dropped 10.0 percent on-year to $20.5 billion in the cited period, while
imports plunged 33.4 percent to $19.4 billion for a trade surplus reaching $1.07
billion, the Korea Customs Service (KCS) said.
According to preliminary data, exports of autos and liquid crystal displays
increased 37.4 percent and 25.7 percent, respectively, last month compared to the
year before.
Aluminum imports moved up 4.9 percent, but inbound shipments of crude oil and
semiconductors fell 48.6 percent and 55.8 percent, according to KCS.
Compared to the first 20 days of August, exports and imports rose 26.7 percent
and 5.2 percent, respectively, according to the report.
Outbound shipments of cars jumped 141.7 percent vis-a-vis the month before, while
gains for semiconductors and ships reached double-digit levels. Imports of crude
oil and grain, however, declined on a monthly basis, with steel imports rising
33.1 percent.
For the whole month, the customs office said South Korea's exports may reach
$33.5 billion won with imports hitting $29.0 billion for a surplus of around $4.5
billion.
Between the beginning of January and Sept. 20, South Korea racked up a trade
surplus of $27.8 billion, with exports dropping 21.5 percent on-year to $246.8
billion with imports plunging 34.3 percent to $219.1 billion, it added.
South Korea, Asia's fourth-largest economy, is expected to log a trade surplus of
around $31 billion this year, a turnaround from the $13 billion deficit tallied
for 2008.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
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