South Korea's export rose for the first 20 days of this month mainly due to strong demand for locally-made semiconductors and oil products, customs data showed Monday.

Export, which accounts for about half of the export-driven economy, reached 32.8 billion U.S. dollars in the July 1-20 period, up 9.3 percent from the same period of last year, according to the Korea Customs Service.

It was a rebound from a 1.9-percent fall tallied in the July 1-10 period due to demand for chips and oil products.

During the July 1-20 period, semiconductor export grew 42.2 percent, with oil product shipment soaring 63 percent.

Auto parts export advanced 11.3 percent, but those for automobiles and ships declined in the cited period.

The daily export averaged 2.05 billion dollars in the July 1-20 period, up 5.9 percent from a year earlier.

Imports jumped 21.6 percent over the year to 31.9 billion dollars for the first 20 days of July. It was attributed to a hike in global crude oil price.

Trade balance posted a surplus of 886 million dollars in the same period.