Exports fall 14.6 pct from Feb. 1-10

SEOUL, South Korea's exports fell nearly 15 percent on-year in the first 10 days of February due mainly to fewer working days, data showed Tuesday. Outbound shipments reached US$15.01 billion in the Feb. 1-10 period, compared with $17.57 billion tallied a year earlier, according to the data from the Korea Customs Service. Imports sank 24.6 percent on-year to $17.01 billion during the period, resulting in a trade deficit of $2 billion. In January, exports advanced 18 percent on-year to US$54.6 billion, the fourth consecutive monthly gain, on the back of strong demand for semiconductors. Source: Yonhap News Agency