South Korea's exports fell 10.3 percent in 2019, the first double-digit decline in 10 years, a government report showed Wednesday.

Exports totaled 542.41 billion U.S. dollars in 2019, down 10.3 percent from the previous year, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE). It marked the first time since 2009 when the country's exports sank 13.9 percent, affected by the global financial crisis.

The downturn is attributable to uncertainties in global environment, such as the U.S.-China trade dispute, Japan's export restrictions, Brexit, and downturn in the semiconductor industry, according to MOTIE.

Chip exports dropped 25.9 percent last year on lower product prices, but in terms of volume, semiconductor shipment increased 7.9 percent in the year. Automobiles exports, on the other hand, expanded 5.1 percent last year.

Exports to the United States kept rising for three straight years, but shipments to China, South Korea's biggest trading partner, contracted 16.0 percent on lower chip price and weak demand for petrochemicals, general machinery and display panels.

Shipments to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the European Union (EU) declined 5.0 percent and 8.4 percent each, with exports to the Middle East countries sliding in double figures.

Imports stood at 503.23 billion U.S. dollars in 2019, down 6.0 percent from the previous year, bringing the trade surplus to 39.18 billion U.S. dollars. The trade balance stayed in black for 11 straight years.

The trade ministry forecast that the country's exports may rebound three percent this year, citing the expected recovery of the global economy and trade as well as the expected turnaround in the global chip industry.

(With input from Xinhua)