South Korea's exports have returned to positive territory, but trade volume isn't likely to surpass the one-trillion-dollar mark this year or next.
 
The Bank of Korea(BOK) projected the nation's trade volume at 955 billion dollars for this year, up six percent from 2016. It forecast that exports would grow four-point-three percent to 517 billion dollars and that imports would expand eight percent to 438 billion dollars.
 
The figures represent an improvement over last year's five-point-nine percent fall in exports and a seven-point-one percent decline in imports, but still below the exclusive threshold.
 
The BOK's trade volume outlook for next year remained below one trillion dollars as well, with exports up two-point-five percent to 530 billion dollars and imports up three-point-four percent to 453 billion dollars.
 
South Korea's trade volume exceeded one trillion dollars for the first time in 2011 and remained above the threshold until 2014.