SEOUL, Aug 1 (Reuters) - South Korean exports in July rose
more than expected over a year ago, easing concerns that demand
from China and the other major economies may be cooling off
quickly.

Overseas sales by Asia's fourth-largest economy rose 29.6
percent in July from a year earlier while imports grew 28.9
percent, data from the Ministry of Knowledge Economy showed on
Sunday.

Median forecasts from a Reuters survey of analysts were for
exports to grow 26.9 percent and imports to rise 32.0 percent
after growing by a revised 30.1 percent and 38.2 percent in June,
respectively. [ID:nTOE66P06H]

South Korean foreign trade figures are closely watched by
investors as the country is the first major exporting economy
Asia to report monthly foreign trade figures. The ministry is due
to release more details soon.

South Korea's monthly export and import growth (percentage
change over a year earlier, balance in billion dollars):

July *June
Export growth +29.6 +30.1
Import growth +28.9 +38.2
Trade balance value +5.67 +6.43
* revised
NOTE: China and the United States in aggregate take more than
one-third of South Korea's total exports.
(Reporting by Cheon Jong-woo and Seo Ji-won; Editing by Yoo
Choonsik)