S. Korea's global export ranking stands at 9th place this year

SEOUL, Nov. 24 (Yonhap) -- South Korea ranked ninth in terms of global export
volume in the first nine months of this year mainly due to local businesses being
less hurt by the worldwide economic slump, the government said Tuesday.

The Ministry of Knowledge Economy said the country, which became the 12th largest
exporting nation in 2008, shipped out US$260.1 billion worth of goods up till the
end of September.
The total represents a drop of 20.9 percent on-year, but is better than the
negative 27.8 percent tallied for the rest of the world.
China, with exports reaching $846.7 billion, topped the list, followed by Germany
and the United States with $806.0 billion and $759.5 billion, respectively. Japan
and France made the top five with the Netherlands, Italy and Belgium coming in
ahead of South Korea. Britain came in 10th with exports hitting $258.6 billion.
The latest report also said the country's trade surplus of $30.1 billion reached
in the past three quarters was the fifth largest among the top 15 exporting
countries examined.
China, Germany, Russia and the Netherlands had larger trade surpluses than South
Korea, while Japan, with a surplus of $11.0 billion, ranked eighth.
The ministry, meanwhile, said unless there is a sudden development that could
further impede international trade, the country should rank as the ninth or 10th
largest exporter this year.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
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