South Korean exports grow 5.2pc in Mar

SEOUL, Apr 1 (Xinhua): South Korea's exports grew at a faster pace in March compared with the prior month due to strong demand for locally-made products, a government report showed Tuesday.

Exports, which account for about half of the economy, expanded 5.2 per cent from a year earlier to US$49.76 billion in March after increasing 1.5 per cent a month earlier, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

Imports rose 3.6 per cent on year to $45.57 billion in March, sending the trade surplus to $4.19 billion.

The country's trade balance stayed in the black for 26 straight months.