Exports during the first ten days of July rose nine-point-five percent from a year earlier.

According to the Korea Customs Service on Friday, outbound shipments between July 1 and 10 totaled 19-point-four billion U.S. dollars, up nine-point-five percent on-year.

Shipments of key export items increased, with semiconductors up 12-point-eight percent, automobiles 13-point-three percent and vessels 134-point-nine percent.

Exports to China surged six-point-two percent, while outbound shipments to the United States rose six-point-one percent and exports to the European Union increased three-point-six percent.

Combined, shipments to the three regions accounted for 47 percent of the total.

Imports during the same period increased one-point-eight percent year-on-year to 20 billion dollars, resulting in a trade deficit of 600 million dollars.