S.Korea's economy logs trade surplus for 58 months

South Korea's economy logged trade surplus for 58 months in a row thanks to a slight rebound in three months, customs office data showed on Thursday.

Revised data for trade surplus was 8.2 billion U.S. dollars in November, up from 7.0 billion dollars tallied in October, according to the Korea Customs Service (KCS).

Exports, which account for about half of the economy, gained 2.5 percent from a year earlier to 45.4 billion dollars in November, the first rebound in three months. Imports expanded 9.3 percent to 37.2 billion dollars in the period.

Overseas demand for locally-made chips and steels were strong, leading the November export rebound. Shipments of chips and steel products posted a double-digit increase, with those for cars, oil products and auto parts rising by low single-digits.

Ship exports tumbled 37.1 percent on global economic slowdown. Exports of telecommunication devices, including smartphones, slumped 23.4 percent as Samsung Electronics discontinued its latest Galaxy Note 7 smartphones.

Energy imports logged a double-digit growth amid higher commodity prices. Imports of precision machinery and home appliances expanded 8.5 percent and 18.9 percent respectively. Endit