S. Korea's export logs double-digit fall in 10 days of October

Alsharq Tribune-AFP 

South Korea's exports logged a double-digit fall in the first 10 days of October owing to fewer business days, customs office data showed Monday.

Exports ran to 12.97 billion U.S. dollars in the Oct. 1 to 10 period, down 15.2 percent compared to the same period of last year, according to Korea Customs Service.

The double-digit reduction was attributed to a decrease in working days, which retreated by two days in the cited period on the back of the Chuseok holiday, the South Korean version of Thanksgiving Day.

The daily average export jumped 33.2 percent to 3.70 billion dollars in the 10 days.

Semiconductor export surged 47.0 percent to 4.51 billion dollars, and oil products shipment gained 6.2 percent to 1.21 billion dollars.

Exports for ships, steel, cars, mobile devices, auto parts, computers, precision machinery and home appliances dipped in double figures.

Imports plunged 22.8 percent from a year earlier to 13.49 billion dollars in the first 10 days of October, sending the trade deficit to 527 million dollars.

Imports for crude oil and coal advanced in double figures, but those for natural gas, chips, semiconductor equipment, machinery, cars and mobile devices recorded a double-digit decrease in the cited period.