[THE INVESTOR] South Korea’s exports posted the first on-year rise in 20 months in August, the Trade Ministry said Sept. 1.

Outbound shipments came to US$40.1 billion last month, up 2.6 percent from the same month last year, according to the ministry.

The upturn snapped a record 19th straight months of negative growth that began in January 2015.

Imports also made a turnaround to edge up 0.1 percent on-year to $34.8 billion, recording the first plus figure in 23 months.

August’s trade surplus came to $5.3 billion, marking the 55th consecutive month of a surplus.

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