South Korea's exports rose 11.6% in the first 20 days of this month from a year earlier, raising hopes that the country may post positive growth for two straight months for the first time in more than two years, latest customs data showed Wednesday.

    The country's exports totaled US$27.1 billion from Dec. 1-20, up from $24.2 billion tallied over the same period last year, according to the Korea Customs Service (KCS). Outbound shipments of semiconductors soared 19.5% on-year and those of passenger cars gained 8.6% over the cited period, South Korea's News Agency (Yonhap) reported. 

    However, exports of wireless devices fell 2.3% in the aftermath of Samsung Electronics Co.'s production halt of the Galaxy Note 7, while shipments of auto parts declined 7% . The data showed that imports also rose 9.4% on-year to $24.4 billion over the 20-day period, resulting in a trade surplus of $2.63 billion. 

    Asia's fourth-largest economy saw its exports gain 2.5% in November to mark the second on-year rise in the past 23 months. If December exports continue their upbeat mode by the end of the month, it will be the first time that the monthly figure posts a two-month winning streak since September and October in 2014.