South Korea’s exports fell 15.2% year-on-year to $13 billion in the first 10 days of October, while imports dropped 22.8% to $13.5 billion, leaving a $500 million trade deficit, the Korea Customs Service said Monday. The decline reflected fewer working days during the Chuseok and National Foundation Day holidays, with only 3.5 working days compared with 5.5 last year. On a daily-average basis, exports rose 33.2%, indicating underlying strength in shipments.

Semiconductor exports jumped 47% and petroleum products 6.2%. Auto exports fell 51.8% and wireless communication devices 28.9%. Shipments to Taiwan surged 200% but declined to the U.S., the EU