SEOUL, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's exports grew in double digits in the first 20 days of this month due mainly to more business days, customs office data showed Monday.
Outbound shipment spiked 13.5 percent from a year earlier to 40.11 billion U.S. dollars during the Sept. 1-20 period, according to Korea Customs Service.
The double-digit growth came as the number of working days expanded by 3.5 days in the cited period. Last year's Chuseok holidays, South Korea's version of Thanksgiving Day, fell in September.
Exports for semiconductors, automobiles and ships advanced in double figures, with those for steel products, mobile devices, auto parts, computers and home appliances gaining in single digits.
Imports swelled 9.9 percent to 38.22 billion dollars for the first 20 days of September, sending the trade surplus to 1.89 billion dollars.
Imports for semiconductor equipment, machinery, natural gas, and mobile devices surged in double digits, but those for crude oil, coal and oil products shrank in the cited period. ■
