Export, which accounts for about half of the export-driven economy, amounted to 8.7 billion U.S. dollars during the August 1-10 period, down 23.6 percent from the same period of last year, according to Korea Customs Service.
The daily average export reduced 12.7 percent in the 10-day period as the number of business days slipped by one day compared to a year ago.
Import dipped 24.3 percent over the year to 10.6 billion dollars in the cited period, sending the trade deficit to 1.9 billion dollars.
Semiconductor export shrank 6.8 percent for the first 10 days of August due to weak global demand, and shipment for oil products plunged 45.8 percent on cheap crude oil.
Shipment for telecommunication devices such as smartphone dived 43.6 percent, but computer export jumped 62.3 percent as people preferred working at home and attending online classes amid the fear of virus infections.
Export to China, South Korea's biggest trading partner, diminished 11.3 percent, and those to the United States, the European Union (EU), Vietnam, Japan and the Middle East all reduced in double figures.
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