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

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 the 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.
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 dropping 34.3 percent to $219.1 billion, it added.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
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