S. Korea posts trade deficit during first 20 days of Dec.

SEOUL, Dec. 21 (Yonhap) -- South Korea posted a trade deficit of US$1.23 billion
during the first 20 days of this month mainly due to an increase in imports of
crude oil and other raw materials, the national customs office said Monday.
Exports amounted to $20.42 billion, up 33.3 percent from the same period a year
earlier, while imports grew 14.4 percent to $21.65 billion, according to the
report by the Korea Customs Service (KCS).
The shortfalls were attributed to a hike in imports of crude and other raw
materials. The KCS, however, said the trade account would likely return to black
at the end of this month as exports pick up more momentum, forecasting a surplus
around $3.5 billion.
Between the beginning of January and Dec. 20, South Korea has logged a cumulative
trade surplus of $36.45 billion, it added.
kokobj@yna.co.kr
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