S.Korea posts trade surplus for 46 months

South Korea posted trade surplus for 46 months in a row due to faster fall in imports than exports amid low commodity prices, customs data showed Tuesday.

The revised figure for trade surplus was 10.3 billion U.S. dollars in November, staying in black since February 2012, according to Korea Customs Service.

Exports, which account for about half of the economy, fell 4.8 percent from a year earlier to 44.4 billion dollars in November. Imports tumbled 17.6 percent to 34.1 billion dollars last month.

Crude oil imports plunged 47.2 percent in November from a year earlier amid falling oil prices, helping pull down energy import costs and increase the trade surplus.

Imports of consumer goods gained 3 percent, but commodity imports tumbled 30.1 percent due to cheaper oil.

Ship exports were more than doubled in November compared with the same month of last year, but shipment of other key export items showed a bleak picture.

Exports of chips and automobiles declined 9.8 percent and 9.2 percent respectively, and shipment of oil products dropped 36.5 percent. Those for display panel and telecommunication devices posted a double-digit reduction in November from a year earlier. Enditem