SEOUL, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's exports grew by 5.8 percent year-on-year in the first 20 days of this month largely due to solid demand for locally-made semiconductors, leading to a trade surplus of 798 million U.S. dollars, customs office data showed Thursday.
Outbound shipment stood at 35.61 billion U.S. dollars in the November 1-20 period, according to Korea Customs Service.
Semiconductor exports soared 42.5 percent to 7.71 billion dollars in the cited period, but automotive shipment dived 17.7 percent to 3.1 billion dollars.
Exports for ships, steel products and computers swelled in double figures, but those for oil products, mobile devices, precision machinery and home appliances declined in double digits.
Imports shrank 1.0 percent to 34.81 billion dollars in the same period. Notably, imports for crude oil, oil products, mobile devices and cars suffered a double-digit fall.
The country's monthly exports kept an upward trend for the 13th consecutive month through October. ■