South Korea’s industrial output grew for the first time in four months in July backed by a pickup in exports.

According to data by Statistics Korea on Thursday, industrial output rose one-point-two percent in July from a month earlier to post positive growth for the first time since March.

Production in the mining and manufacturing industries increased one-point-nine percent, marking the largest gain since January when it posted a two-point-eight percent growth.

Output in the service industry also increased point-six percent last month.

Retail sales, an indicator of private consumption trends, inched up point-two percent on-month, posting growth for the second consecutive month. It was the first time in more than a year that retail sales posted growth for two straight months.

However, capital investment dropped five-point-one percent last month from a month earlier, the largest fall since February.