The first half of 2018 was a bumper six months of trade for South Korea,... with record high volume -- both in terms of imports and exports.<br />Experts say,.... strong global petroleum shipments drove the trend.<br /> Yoon Jung-min reports.<br /> <br /> South Korea saw the highest trading volume of petroleum products this year it's ever recorded for the January to June period, adding momentum to the local economy.<br /><br /> According to the trade ministry on Monday, Korea brought in some 560 million barrels of crude oil in the first half, up 2-point-7 percent from the same time last year, hitting a record high.<br /><br />Imports from the U.S. through June soared near 360 percent to 14-point-1 million barrels.<br />Korea bought more U.S. shale oil while reducing volumes from the traditional oil producers in the Middle East.<br /><br /> As for exports, sales of petroleum goods went up 4-point-2 percent on-year to 260 million barrels.<br /><br />Total revenue amounted to some 22 billion U.S. dollars due mainly to an increase in global oil prices... on rising demand for gasoline and diesel.<br />Prices for both inched up 0.5 percent and 1.1 percent, respectively.<br /><br /> The bullish demand for Korea's oil goods is a positive sign for the local economy. Exports of gasoline to Indonesia, in particular, jumped more than 2,000 percent.<br />Yoon Jung-min, Arirang News. <br />
