S.Korea posts trade surplus for 70 months

SEOUL, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's economy posted trade surplus for 70 months in a row through November thanks to brisk exports, customs data showed Friday.

Trade surplus was 7.6 billion U.S. dollars in November, keeping the surplus trend since February 2012, according to the revised trade data by the Korea Customs Service.

Exports advanced 9.5 percent from a year earlier to 49.6 billion dollars in November, while imports expanded 12.7 percent to 42 billion dollars.

The brisk exports were mainly attributable to strong demand for locally-made semiconductors, of which shipments surged 68.5 percent. Exports for oil products and automobiles advanced 39.1 percent and 1.9 percent respectively.

Overseas shipments of telecommunications devices, including smartphones, tumbled 10.8 percent as domestic firms increased production in overseas factories. Auto parts exports declined 11.3 percent last month.

Exports to China, South Korea's biggest trading partner, gained 20.3 percent in November from a year earlier. Those to the United States and Vietnam also posted a double-digit expansion.

Imports of raw material climbed 12.5 percent on higher crude oil prices. Capital goods imports gained 11.4 percent on solid demand for foreign luxury vehicles, while capital goods imports jumped 13.7 percent. Enditem