South Korea's trade balance stayed in black for 10 months in a row last month thanks to solid demand for locally-made IT, steel and petroleum products, according to customs office data released on Sunday.

Statistics of the Korea Customs Service show the country's trade surplus reached 4.38 billion U.S. dollars in November, up from a revised surplus of 3.69 billion dollars for October.

The figure was slightly down from a preliminary reading of 4.48 billion dollars estimated earlier this month by the Ministry of Knowledge Economy, but the trade balance stayed in the black for 10 months in a row.

The November surplus growth was attributable to strong demand for telecommunication devices, semiconductors, steel products and oil products produced here in Seoul.

Exports, which account for around half of the South Korean economy, expanded 3.8 percent on-year to 47.78 billion dollars in November, maintaining its growth trend for two straight months.

By item, shipments of telecommunication devices and semiconductors expanded 14.4 percent and 12.6 percent respectively in November from a year before, with those for steel and oil products increasing 10.5 percent and 10.6 percent respectively.

Exports to China, South Korea's No. 1 trading partners, jumped 10.5 percent on-year in November, with those to the Southeast Asian nations and Japan increasing 17.3 percent and 3.7 percent respectively.

Shipments to the European Union and the United States declined 13.9 percent and 4.1 percent respectively over the cited period due to uncertainties over the eurozone fiscal crisis and the U.S. fiscal cliff issue.

Imports rose 0.9 percent on-year to 43.4 billion dollars in November, keeping its growth trend for two straight months.

Inbound shipments of raw materials expanded 5.2 percent on-year in November amid higher oil prices, of which imports jumped 14.3 percent last month. Consumer goods imports increased 4.1 percent last month due to demand for foreign luxury cars and clothing, but those for capital goods retreated 9.1 percent amid weak facility investment and fragile domestic demand.

For the first 11 months of this year, exports reached 503.1 billion dollars, down 0.9 percent from the same period of last year. Imports contracted 0.5 percent to 476.5 billion dollars over the same period, sending the trade surplus to 26.6 billion dollars.