South Korea's exports rose two-point-six percent on-year to 40-point-one billion U.S. dollars in August, ending 19 months of negative growth.
 
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced the preliminary data on Thursday.
 
The ministry said shipments of semiconductors, computers and other main export items increased and their unit prices recovered. Outbound sales of semiconductors and petrochemical goods hit their highest point for this year.

Of the 13 major export items, shipments of eight items increased while sales of flat panel displays and home appliances narrowed their negative growth.

The ministry noted that the turnaround is also attributed to more working days last month compared with the previous year. 

Imports grew zero-point-one percent to 34-point-eight billion dollars, recording their first on-year growth in 23 months.
 
August's monthly trade surplus was five-point-three billion dollars, marking the 55th straight month of surplus.