SEOUL, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's export fell in single digits in the first 20 days of October owing to less business days, customs office data showed Tuesday.
Outbound shipment declined 7.8 percent from a year earlier to 30.14 billion U.S. dollars in the cited period, according to Korea Customs Service.
The downturn came as the number of working days decreased by two days in the cited period. This year's Chuseok holidays, the South Korean version of Thanksgiving Day, fell in October.
Semiconductor export soared 20.2 percent to 8.53 billion dollars, but those for cars, steel products, mobile devices, auto parts, precision machinery and home appliances retreated in double digits.
Shipment to the United States tumbled 24.7 percent, with those to Vietnam, the European Union and Japan all sliding in double figures.
Import shrank 2.3 percent to 32.99 billion dollars for the first 20 days of October, sending trade deficit to 2.85 billion dollars.
Import for natural gas, oil products, semiconductor equipment, coal and mobile devices posted a double-digit slide, but those for crude oil and cars advanced in double figures. ■
