[Namkung Jinwoong = timeid@]
South Korea's exports fell for two months in a row in October due to slow shipments of cars and smartphones, the trade ministry said.
Exports in October stood at 42 billion US dollars, down 3.2 percent from a year ago. It's the second straight month of negative growth following a 5.9 percent drop in September. Imports also slowed in October to 34.8 billion dollars, down 5.4 percent.
The trade ministry attributed October's negative growth in exports mainly to walkouts at South Korea's leading Hyundai Motor and a global recall of Samsung's Galaxy Note 7 smartphones.
In October, car exports fell 11.8 percent from a year earlier while wireless devices including mobile phones and components slipped 28 percent, marking the steepest on-year decline since July 2012.
Last month exports to China fell 11.3 percent from a year ago.
Aju News Park Sae-jin = swatchsjp@ajunews.com
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
