SEOUL, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's exports logged a double-digit fall in the first 10 days of this month owing to fewer business days, customs office data showed Monday.
Export stood at 14.91 billion U.S. dollars in the November 1-10 period, down 17.8 percent compared with the same period of last year, according to Korea Customs Service.
The double-digit reduction was attributed to a fall in working days, which decreased 1.5 days in the cited period.
The daily average export shrank 0.1 percent in the 10-day period. The monthly outbound shipment kept expanding for the 13th straight month through October.
Semiconductor exports spiked 17.4 percent to 3.28 billion dollars, but automotive shipments plunged 33.6 percent to 1.33 billion dollars.
Shipments for oil products, steel, mobile devices, auto parts, precision machinery and home appliances retreated in double figures in the 10-day period.
Import diminished 21.0 percent from a year earlier to 15.77 billion dollars in the first 10 days of November, sending the trade deficit to 856 million dollars.
Imports for crude oil, natural gas, oil products, machinery, mobile devices and automobiles dipped in double figures. ■