SEOUL, May 21 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's export fell in the first 20 days of this month due to lower U.S. demand, affected by the U.S. tariffs imposition, customs office data showed Wednesday.
Outbound shipment declined 2.4 percent from a year earlier to 31.97 billion U.S. dollars during the May 1-20 period, according to Korea Customs Service.
The daily average export retreated 2.4 percent to 2.56 billion dollars in the 20-day period.
Export to the United States tumbled 14.6 percent to 5.25 billion dollars on the back of the U.S. protectionist moves, and those to the European Union (EU) and Japan dipped in single digits.
Semiconductor export soared 17.3 percent to 7.27 billion dollars in the cited period, but automotive shipment dived 6.3 percent to 3.08 billion dollars.
Shipment for oil products, steel, auto parts and home appliances decreased in double figures.
Import dwindled 2.5 percent to 32.22 billion dollars for the first 20 days of this month, sending the trade deficit to 253 million dollars.
Import for coal and oil products went down in double figures, but those for chips, semiconductor equipment and precision machinery rose in single digits. ■
