South Korea's trade balance marked a surplus of 120 million U.S. dollars in the first 12 days of March with the import hard struck by the economic recession, the customs office said Thursday.

South Korea's export marked 8.65 billion U.S. dollars during the period, while its import hit 8.53 billion U.S. dollars, said the Korea Customs Service (KCS).

The country's recent surplus brings about a positive outlook for the trade balance in March, as the nation's exports are normally massed in the last 10 days of a month and, in turn, its trade balance usually posts a deficit until then.

South Korea registered a trade deficit of 3.35 billion U.S. dollars in January mainly due to a record drop in exports, but returned back to positive territory, with a surplus of 3.29 billion U.S. dollars in February as imports making a striking plunge.

Source: Xinhua