Outbound shipment gained 9.8 percent from a year earlier to 35.96 billion U.S. dollars in the Sept. 1-20 period, according to Korea Customs Service.
The increase was attributed to more business days.
The export kept sliding for the 11th consecutive month through August on weaker global demand for locally-made products, especially semiconductors.
Import fell 1.5 percent to 36.45 billion dollars in the 20-day period, sending the trade deficit to 490 million dollars.
Semiconductor export plunged 14.1 percent in the cited period, keeping a downward trend since August last year.
Outbound shipment for oil products and computers declined in double figures, but export for cars, steels and auto parts advanced in double digits.
Import for natural gas and coal recorded a double-digit slide in the 20-day period, but those for oil products, cars, machinery and semiconductor equipment increased in double figures.
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