S. Korea's export falls 4.7 pct in 10 days of June

South Korea's export fell in single digits in the first 10 days of this month due to lower business days, customs office data showed Tuesday.

Export stood at 14.58 billion U.S. dollars in the June 1-10 period, down 4.7 percent compared with the same period in 2023, according to Korea Customs Service.

The downturn was mainly attributable to a decline in working days, the number of which reduced by 1.0 day in the cited period.

The daily average export increased 11.2 percent in the 10-day period. The monthly outbound shipment kept growing for the eighth straight month through May.

Semiconductor export spiked 36.6 percent to 2.98 billion dollars, but automotive shipment decreased 18.9 percent to 1.2 billion dollars.

Oil products shipment gained 9.3 percent to 1.37 billion dollars, but those for steel, auto parts, precision machinery and computers retreated in double digits in the 10-day period.

Import shrank 7.4 percent from a year earlier to 15.41 billion dollars in the first 10 days of June, sending the trade deficit to 0.83 billion dollars.

Crude oil import jumped 23.9 percent, but those for natural gas, coal, cars and mobile devices diminished in double figures.