Outbound shipment stood at 15.42 billion U.S. dollars in the Dec. 1-10 period, down 20.8 percent compared to the same period of last year, according to Korea Customs Service.
The export kept a downward trend by sliding 5.7 percent in October and 14.0 percent in November as rising worries about global economic downturn weakened demand for locally-made products.
During the 10-day period, semiconductor shipment tumbled 27.6 percent, with those for steel products, auto parts, mobile devices and precision machinery retreating in double figures.
Export to the United States and the European Union (EU) dwindled 2.0 percent and 4.3 percent each, while shipment to Vietnam and Japan dropped more than 20 percent.
Import shrank 7.3 percent from a year earlier to 20.34 billion U.S. dollars during the Dec. 1-10 period, sending the trade deficit to 4.92 billion dollars.
The import of the country's three key energy sources, including crude oil, natural gas and coal, came to 6.21 billion U.S. dollars in the 10-day period, up 23.2 percent from a year earlier.
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