S. Korea exports sprint ahead

South Korea’s exports posted double-digit growth in the first 10 days of the month, thanks to strong demand for locally-made ships and semiconductors, customs data showed on Tuesday. Exports, which account for about half of the economy, reached $14.3 billion during the July 1-July 10 period, up 38.5 percent from the same period last year, according to the Korea Customs Service. The country’s exports kept rising for the eight months through June. The continued increase in overseas shipments was attributed to demand for ships and chips. Ship exports almost sextupled in the period, while those for semiconductors surged 50.4 percent. Shipments in telecoms devices such as smartphones tumbled 23.7 percent, with those for automobiles falling 0.2 percent.