S. Korea's Q1 exports rank 11th-largest in world

SEOUL, June 11 (Yonhap) -- South Korea surpassed Russia during the first quarter
of this year to become the world's 11th-largest exporting country, data showed
Thursday.

South Korea's exports amounted to US$74.7 billion during the January-March
period, trailing Britain and Canada whose exports amounted to $80.1 billion and
$77.7 billion, respectively, according to the data by the Ministry of Knowledge
Economy,
Germany topped the list by exporting $259.5 billion worth of products, followed
by the United States, China and Japan with $248.7 billion, $245.6 billion and
$119.3 billion.
Russia saw its ranking slide to 13th from 9th at the end of last year as its
first-quarter exports plunged 47.4 percent to $57.9 billion from a year earlier.
The decline was attributed to falls in sales of oil and natural gas amid weak
prices.
Buffeted by a protracted global slowdown. South Korea also saw its overseas
shipments fall 24.9 percent over the same period but the ministry said the
contraction was not as steep as other advanced countries.
The ministry forecast that South Korea could become one of the world's top 10
exporting countries for the first time this year "if the current trend
continues."
kokobj@yna.c