August Trade Balance Hits Surplus for 19 Consecutive Months

SEOUL, KOREA- Korea's trade balance for the month of August continued a 19-month run in surpluses. According to the Korea Customs Service on September 15, the August export volume was US$46,378 million, up 1.2 percent from the previous month and up 7.7 percent from the same month a year ago. Imports for the same month were $41,525 million, down 4.1 percent month on month but up 1.0 percent year on year. As a result, the balance of trade was a surplus of $4.85 billion, maintaining the surplus for 19 consecutive months since February last year.