SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - South Korea's average export value per working day rose to a 1-year high of US$1.48 billion ($2.07 billion) in October, government data showed on Sunday.

The Ministry of Knowledge Economy data also showed exports to China for the first 20 days of October rose 3.4 per cent over a year earlier whereas shipments to the United States dropped 37.4 per cent.

The ministry said in a statement the country expects trade surplus for the whole of this year to exceed US$40 billion for the first time ever.