Export, which takes up around half of the export-driven economy, amounted to 25.0 billion U.S. dollars in the June 1-20 period, down 7.5 percent from a year earlier, according to Korea Customs Service.
The daily average export tumbled 16.2 percent in the cited period. The number of working days grew by 1.5 days in the 20-day period compared with a year earlier.
Import retreated 12.0 percent to 24.5 billion dollars for the first 20 days of this month, sending the trade surplus to 0.5 billion dollars.
Export for automobiles and consumer electronic products dived 36.7 percent and 14.9 percent each, and oil product shipment plunged 40.9 percent amid cheaper crude oil.
Shipment of telecommunication devices such as smartphone gained 10.9 percent, and semiconductor export added 2.6 percent in the cited period.
Export to the United States, the European Union (EU), Japan and the Middle East all declined in double figures.
Shipment to China, South Korea's biggest trading partner, advanced 14.5 percent in the June 1-20 period compared to a year earlier.
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