South Korea's exports plunged nearly 27 percent on year in the first 20 days of April amid the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to data from the Korea Customs Service on Tuesday, the nation's outbound shipments came to 21-point-seven billion dollars during the cited period, plunging 26-point-nine percent from the same period last year. 

The daily average exports during the 20-day period slipped 16-point-eight percent on-year, with two days fewer than last year in the number of working days.

The country witnessed drops in most of its major export items as shipments of semiconductors dropped 14-point-nine percent and automobile and petroleum products slipped 28-point-five percent and 53-point-five percent, respectively.  

By country, shipments to China and the U.S. dropped 17 percent each on-year, while exports to the European Union fell over 32 percent.