Korea's trade ministry has released its preliminary data on the country's exports and imports... which show some solid numbers for October.<br />Kim Hyesung reports. <br />South Korea's exports hit nearly 55 billion U.S. dollars in October-- the second highest figure since the government began recording related trade data in 1956. <br />It's also the first time Korea has posted six straight months of exports that top 50 billion dollars. <br />The Trade Ministry says exports in October grew 22-point-seven percent on-year thanks to solid sales of semiconductors and petroleum products.<br />Korea's other main exports including autos and auto parts also picked up....while exports of displays, and wireless communications devices fell.<br />The daily average exports between January and October also hit a record high of 2-point-three billion dollars. <br />The sharp rebound in the figures following an 8-point-two percent drop in September was largely due to the traditional three-day Chuseok holidays falling in October last year but in September this year. <br />Removing the holiday effect, the combined September and October exports were up 5-point-7 percent from the same period last year, slowing from a six-point-six percent rise for the first eight months of this year.<br />Imports jumped near 28 percent on-year, recording over 48 billion dollars... leaving a trade surplus of 6-point-five billion dollars.<br />Kim Hyesung, Arirang News. <br />
