The downward trend in exports is continuing with outbound shipments in the first ten days of May declining by over ten percent on-year. 

According to tentative data from the Korea Customs Service on Thursday, exports came to 14-point-48 billion U.S. dollars in the cited period, down ten-point-one percent from last year. 

The total number of working days during this period was the same as last year at six and a half days. 

The latest data continues the trend in exports decline seen for seven consecutive months since October.

While exports of automobiles and auto parts jumped 125 percent and seven-point-eight percent on-year, respectively, shipments of semiconductors fell nearly 30 percent. 

Shipments of petroleum products also dropped by over 40 percent.

Exports to the country's largest trade partner, China, fell 14-point-seven percent. However, shipments to the U.S. and the European Union rose eight-point-nine percent and eleven-point-five percent, respectively.