South Korea posted its 5th straight trade surplus.

September’s $551 million trade surplus was far above the $185 million surplus for the same month last year, the Trade and Industry Ministry reported. The surplus was attributed to brisk shipments of textiles, electronic products and automobiles. The ministry said the surplus for the year through September was $1.338 billion, compared to a deficit of $939 million during the same period of 1985. Exports in September totaled $3.096 billion, up 19.2% from a year ago, and imports rose 5.5% to $2.545 billion, the ministry reported.