Korea's exports more than doubled in the first 10 days of November from a year earlier, customs data showed Wednesday, bringing the country closer to reaching $1 trillion in annual exports. Outbound shipments reached $33.5 billion in the Nov. 1-10 period, compared with $15.7 billion a year earlier, according to data from the Korea Customs Service. It was the highest export value recorded for the first 10 days of any November. Imports rose 45 percent on-year to $24.7 billion over the cited period, resulting in a trade surplus of $8.8 billion. By sector, exports of chips soared 331.2 percent to $16.6 billion. Semiconductors accounted for 49.7 percent of the total outbound shipments, up 25.3 percentage points from a year earlier. Outbound shipments of petroleum products also more than doubled to $2 billion over the period. Exports of cars, on the other hand, fell 4.3 percent to $1.4 billion. By destination, exports to China vaulted 148 percent to $9.16 billion, while those to the United States surged 163.6 percent to $6.79 billion. Cumulative exports this year through Tuesday, meanwhile, reached