SEOUL, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's export fell for the first 10 days of this month on lower price for oil products and semiconductors, customs office data showed Friday.
Export, which takes up about half of the export-driven economy, amounted to 13.1 billion U.S. dollars in the October 1-10 period, down 8.5 percent from the same period of last year, according to Korea Customs Service.
The outbound shipment continued a downward trend, after sliding for 10 straight months through September.
Shipment for semiconductors and oil products tumbled 27.2 percent and 19.5 percent in the cited period on lower product price.
Export for automobiles, consumer electronics and telecommunication devices, such as smartphones, grew in double figures during the period.
Export to China, South Korea's biggest trading partner, contracted 15.7 percent, with those to the United States and the European Union skidding 13.1 percent and 11.7 percent each.
Import shrank 15.2 percent to 13.8 billion U.S. dollars in the 10-day period, sending the trade balance to a deficit of 0.7 billion U.S. dollars.
