S.Korean exports rise in first 10 days of December

Exports in South Korea, which account for about half of the economy, rose for the first 10 days of this month on higher oil prices and demand for chips and cars, customs data showed on Monday.

Exports grew 1.6 percent from a year earlier to 12.86 billion U.S. dollars during Dec. 1-10, according to Korea Customs Service (KCS).

The overseas shipments managed to keep a growth momentum after increasing 2.7 percent in November, the first rebound in three months.

Adjusted for business days, daily averaged exports expanded 8.0 percent for the first 10 days of this month.

In the cited period, imports inched down 0.1 percent to 12.14 billion dollars, sending trade surplus to 0.72 billion dollars.

Exports of semiconductor and automobile increased 5.9 percent and 5.0 percent each, leading this month's early shipments.

Oil product exports jumped 19.0 percent on higher prices, but those for steels and auto parts declined 0.9 percent and 9.7 percent respectively.

Exports to the European Union (EU) soared 26.4 percent, with those to Vietnam and Japan jumping 41.9 percent and 3.1 percent each.

Shipments to China and the United States, South Korea's top two trading partners, declined 1.8 percent and 13.8 percent respectively, with those to Latin American countries falling 2.9 percent. Endit