US$36.1 billion in exports from January 1st to 20th...5.1% year-on-year decrease

Earlier this year, Korea's exports fell 5.1% from the same period last year.

The Korea Customs Service said exports from the 1st to the 20th were $36.1 billion, down $1.7 billion from the same period last year.

Exports of semiconductors rose 19.2%, but passenger cars, petroleum products and auto parts fell sharply to 7.3%, 29.9% and 10.1%, respectively.

By country, exports increased by 13% each from Vietnam and Taiwan, and decreased in China, the United States, and the European Union.

Imports were $35.4 billion in the same period, with a $3.8 billion trade deficit.

Earlier, exports increased 3.8% year-on-year from the 1st to the 10th, starting with an upward trend.