SEOUL, May 21 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's export rose in single digits in the first 20 days of this month due to strong demand for locally-made semiconductors, customs office data showed Tuesday.
Outbound shipment gained 1.5 percent over the year to 32.75 billion U.S. dollars in the May 1-20 period, according to Korea Customs Service.
The daily average export went up 17.7 percent in the 20-day period. The monthly export kept an upward trend for the seventh consecutive month through April.
Semiconductor export soared 45.5 percent to 6.2 billion dollars in the cited period, but those for steel products and auto parts declined in double figures.
Automotive shipment reduced 4.2 percent to 3.29 billion dollars, and those for mobile devices, precision machinery and home appliances lost ground.
Import shrank 9.8 percent to 33.05 billion dollars in the May 20-day period, sending the trade deficit to 300 million dollars.
Import for machinery, semiconductor equipment, automobiles and coal recorded a double-digit fall in the 20-day period. ■
