Revised figure for trade surplus amounted to 8.7 billion U.S. dollars in September, staying in the black since May, according to Korea Customs Service.
Export, which accounts for about half of the export-driven economy, grew 7.6 percent over the year to 48.0 billion U.S. dollars last month, while import added 1.6 percent to 39.3 billion U.S. dollars.
Shipment for semiconductors, cars and auto parts advanced in double figures in September from a year earlier, but oil product export tumbled in double digits amid cheaper crude oil.
Consumer electronics export expanded 6.7 percent, but shipment of telecommunication devices such as smartphone reduced 4.2 percent in the month.
Export to China, South Korea's biggest trading partner, increased 8.2 percent, with those to the United States, the European Union (EU) and Vietnam posting a double-digit expansion.
Shipment to Japan and the Middle East slipped in single digit last month.
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