South Korea logs trade surplus for 29th straight month in June

South Korea logged a trade surplus for the 29th consecutive month in June, as exports bounced back from the previous month's slump, customs data showed Tuesday.
South Korea's exports came to US$47.85 billion last month, up 2.5% from a year earlier, while imports rose 4.1% on-year to $42.40 billion, according to the data from the Korea Customs Service.
The June exports growth followed a 1.4% contraction tallied a month earlier.
Earlier, the trade ministry said that exports came to $47.84 billion last month, with imports increasing 4.5% on-year to $42.55 billion, according to South Korea's (Yonhap) News Agency.
The customs data showed that Korea logged a trade surplus of $5.45 billion last month, marking 29 straight months of surplus since February 2012. During the January-June period, its cumulative trade surplus totaled $20.2 billion.
Exports of semiconductors, ships and auto parts gained 10.7%, 5.8% and 8.8%, respectively. Those of liquid crystal devices and home appliances grew 13.4% and 7.9%.
Exports bound for China and the European Union expanded 16.8% and 19.8%, while those to the Middle East and Japan shrank 5.4% and 6.6%, according to the data.