South Korea logged a trade surplus for the 21st straight month in October thanks to relatively robust exports growth, customs data showed Thursday.

South Korea‘s exports came to $50.5 billion last month, up 7.2 percent from the same month a year earlier, while imports grew 5.2 percent on-year to $45.6 billion, according to the data provided by the Korea Customs Service.

As a result, Korea logged $4.9 billion in trade surplus last month, marking the 21st month of a surplus in a row since February last year. During the January-October period, its cumulative trade surplus rose to $35.7 billion.

Exports of mobile communications equipment, electronic home appliances and passenger vehicles jumped 30.3 percent, 22.4 percent and 19.8 percent, respectively, on-year in October.

Semiconductors and ships also saw their overseas shipments increase 13.5 percent and 7.4 percent. (Yonhap News)