[THE INVESTOR] Korea’s exports jumped 28.4 percent in the first 20 days of April from a year earlier, customs data showed on April 21.

Total outbound shipments reached US$30.4 billion during the cited period, up from US$23.7 billion tallied over the same period last year, according to the data compiled by the Korea Customs Service.

The increase was led by a 52.6-percent on-year gain in exports of semiconductors and a 25.8-percent surge in passenger cars.

Exports to China rose 13.9 percent over the 20-day period from a year earlier. Shipments to the European Union surged 100 percent and those to the United States jumped 13.4 percent on-year.

Meanwhile, imports advanced 16.4 percent on-year to US$25.4 billion over the cited period, the data showed.

By Alex Lee and newswires (alexlee@heraldcorp.com)