The Korea Customs Service on Nov.11 said exports in the first ten days of this month rose 20.1% from the same period last year. The photo is of the wharf Sinseondae in the Port of Busan on Nov. 5 filled with export and import containers. (Yonhap News)

By Kim Minji and Lee Jihae

The Korea Customs Service on Nov.11 said exports in this month's first ten days reached USD 14.1 billion on a tentative customs clearance basis, up 20.1% from the same period last year.

The number of working days from Nov.1-10 was 7.5, or half a day more than in the same period last year. The export average per day over the ten days was USD 1.88 billion, a 12.1% increase.

By sector, semiconductors saw exports rise 31.9%, automobiles 8.3% and wireless communication devices 33.3%. Petroleum saw a decline of 24.1% and computer accessories dipped 3.1%.

By market, exports to China rose 14.5%, the U.S. 23.5%, the European Union 40.5% and Vietnam 15.8%. Shipments to Japan fell 7.4% and those to the Middle East dropped 4.5%.

Imports over the ten-day period amounted to USD 13.3 billion, up 7.8%.

By item, semiconductors saw imports jump 42% and machinery 24.6%, while crude oil suffered a decline of 57.9% and gas a drop of 27.8%. Shipments from China rose 34.8% and those from the EU grew 37.4%, while imports from the U.S. declined 5.1% and those from the Middle East nosedived 59.3%.

Over the ten-day period, Korea posted a trade surplus of USD 760 million.

kimmj7725@korea.kr