S. Korea posts trade deficit of US$1.7 bln in Oct.

SEOUL, Oct. 21 (Yonhap) -- South Korea posted a trade deficit of $1.7 billion for
the first 20 days of October as imports increased amid growing signs of an
economic rebound, the customs office said Wednesday.
Exports dropped 15.7 percent on-year to $18 billion in the cited period, while
imports plunged 18.6 percent to $19.7 billion, the Korea Customs Service (KCS)
said in a preliminary report. Imports, however, increased 1.4 percent from a
month earlier, it added.
Between the beginning of January and Sept. 20, South Korea racked up a cumulative
trade surplus of $29.1 billion, with exports dropping 20.5 percent on-year to
$278.7 billion and imports dropping 32.1 percent to $249.7 billion, it added.
The customs office, meanwhile, forecast that export growth will likely turn
positive in the last two months of this year, though local currency movements,
oil prices and global economic conditions could weigh on overseas shipments.
kokobj@yna.co.kr
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