south korea posted a decline in exports for the 10th consecutive month in july on sluggish global demand but maintained a trade surplus largely on a plunge in imports exports fell 165 from a year earlier to 5033 billion following a 60 drop in june according to preliminary data released by the countrys trade ministry on tuesday the median market forecast had been for a 145 contraction in july imports dropped 254 from a year earlier to 4871 billion in july resulting in a trade surplus of 163 billiona second straight month of the trade balance being in the black the country ended its 15month stretch of trade deficits in june the weakerthanexpected july data for south korea a bellwether for the health of global trade suggests a slow recovery in demand and world commerce shipments of semiconductors and petroleum products fell 34 and 42 respectively from a year earlier in july the trade data showed those of petrochemicals and steel products also dropped 25 and 10 respectively exports to china the countrys largest trade partner continued to fall in july the data showed