SEOUL, March 11 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's export rose in the first 10 days of this month due to robust demand for locally-made ships, mobile devices and automobiles, customs office data showed Tuesday.

Export came to 13.87 billion U.S. dollars in the March 1-10 period, up 2.9 percent compared to the same period last year, according to Korea Customs Service.

The daily average export advanced 12.3 percent in the 10-day period. The monthly outbound shipment increased 1.0 percent in February.

Semiconductor export was almost unchanged at 2.75 billion dollars, while automotive shipment gained 6.2 percent to 1.21 billion dollars.

Export for ships soared 55.2 percent to 1.22 billion dollars, and mobile devices shipment jumped 16.5 percent.

Those for oil products, steel, auto parts and precision machinery declined in single digits in the cited period.

Import grew 7.3 percent from a year earlier to 15.92 billion dollars in the first 10 days of March, sending the trade deficit to 2.05 billion dollars.

Import for semiconductors, semiconductor equipment, natural gas, cars and precision machinery went up in double figures, but those for oil products and coal retreated in double digits.