SEOUL: South Korean exports rose 3.6 percent in the first 20 days of November compared with the same period last year while imports fell 3.1 percent, customs agency data showed on Friday.

Exports for the Nov. 1-20 period totaled $29.854 billion and imports were $28.567, Korea Customs Service said on its website.

It said the trade surplus for the 20 days was $1.287 billion.

The trade ministry will release preliminary trade figures for all of November on Dec. 1.

Copyright Reuters, 2014