[ Korea’s Exports Declines 16% to $9.4 Bil. in Feb. ]

Korea’s exports declined 16 percent to $9,429 million in February the
first reduction in 14 years, but the nation still managed to post a t
rade surplus of $1,783 million in reduced imports.
The ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy said recently in its mon
thly report that the main reason for the trade surplus on a customs cl
earance basis was the reduction in imports of 3.0 percent to $7,646 mi
llion.
An offical said that the sharp reduction in exports is owned mainly to
the shortened number of days for export resulting from the Sollal hol
idays and the export of gold in the beginning of last year.