SEOUL, June 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 Friday.
Outbound shipment gained 8.5 percent over the year to 35.75 billion U.S. dollars in the period, according to Korea Customs Service.
The daily average export went up 8.5 percent in the 20-day period. The monthly export kept an upward trend for the eighth consecutive month through May.
Import shrank 0.6 percent to 34.23 billion dollars in the 20-day period, sending the trade surplus to 1.52 billion dollars.
Semiconductor export soared 50.2 percent to 7.31 billion dollars in the cited period, and shipment for oil products, mobile devices and computers gained ground.
Automotive shipment reduced 0.4 percent to 3.35 billion dollars, and those for steel products and auto parts slipped in single digits.
Import for semiconductor equipment, automobiles and coal recorded a double-digit decline in the 20-day period. ■
