Exports fell about two percent in the first 20 days of July.
 
According to preliminary data from the Korea Customs Service on Monday, the country’s outbound shipments reached 36-point-one billion U.S. dollars during the cited period, down two-point-two percent from a year earlier.

Average daily exports, however, rose four-point-one percent, with the number of working days decreasing by one day from a year ago to 15-and-a-half.

Exports of the nation’s major export items remained strong, with semiconductor shipments increasing 16-point-five percent and ship exports surging 172-point-two percent from a year earlier.

However, exports of petroleum products and auto parts slipped 17-point-five percent and eight-point-four percent, respectively.

Exports to China and the United States posted respective declines of five-point-nine percent and two-point-one percent amid uncertainties from U.S. tariffs. 

Imports decreased four-point-three percent year-on-year to 35-point-six billion dollars, resulting in a trade surplus of 500 million dollars.