Exports fell ten-point-two percent on-year to 41 billion U.S. dollars in July, extending the period of negative growth to a record-long 19 months.

The Trade Ministry said Monday that imports also marked the 19th consecutive month of declines since January 2015, falling 14 percent on-year to 33-point-three billion dollars.

Exports, which had been narrowing its pace of decline, decreased by a double-digit percentage for the first time in three months after declining eleven-point-one percent in April. The previous record of straight declines was 13 months set between March 2001 and March 2002.

The Trade Ministry said there were one-point-five fewer work days this January compared to last year and that fewer ships were delivered.

The trade surplus, at seven-point-eight billion dollars, continued for 54 straight months.