South Korea posted a trade surplus for the 10th straight month in November, with exports posting positive growth for the first time in a year, thanks to growing demand for semiconductors, displays and petrochemicals, a government report showed Tuesday.

According to the report by the Ministry of Knowledge and Economy, South Korea's trade surplus grew from last month's US$3.63 billion to US$4.05 billion.

The report said the country's outbound shipments made an upturn for the first time in 2009, rising 18.8 percent year-on-year to US$34.27 billion, with imports also advancing 4.7 percent to US$30.22 billion.

The recovery in exports came as outbound shipments of semiconductors, displays, and petrochemicals soared 80.7 percent, 66.8 percent, and 47.8 percent, respectively, during the cited period, the report said.

Imports were also boosted in November, thanks to an increase in demand for capital goods and consumer products, it added.

In the first 11 months of this year, South Korean exports contracted 16.9 percent to US$328.31 billion, while imports fell 28.9 percent to US$290.49 billion, which together brought a trade surplus of US$37.82 billion so far.

(Xinhua News Agency December 1, 2009)