South Korea's exports fell slightly for the first 10 days of this month, while imports posted a double-digit growth amid expensive crude oil, customs data showed Wednesday.

Exports, which account for about half of the export-driven economy, amounted to 14 billion U.S. dollars in the July 1-10 period, down 1.9 percent from the same period of last year, according to Korea Customs Service.

The daily average export declined 8.4 percent to 1.86 billion dollars in the cited period.

The outbound shipment, which shed 1.5 percent in April, rebounded 13.5 percent in May, but it made a little change last month.

During the July 1-10 period, exports for semiconductors, oil products and automobiles increased by double digits, but ship export tumbled 94.7 percent.

Exports to China, the United States, the European union and Japan grew in the cited period, but those to Australia and Singapore logged a double-digit reduction.

Imports surged 19.3 percent over the year to 14.9 billion dollars in the July 1-10 period as higher global crude oil prices pulled up import costs.

Imports for machinery, passenger cars and natural gas gained in the period, but those for semiconductor equipment and coal went down.

The trade balance logged a deficit of 889 million U.S. dollars amid faster growth in imports than exports.