Sales at South Korean duty-free stores fell 2.52 percent in September from a month earlier as the number of customers dropped, data showed Thursday.

Sales reached $943.58 million in September, compared to $967.93 million the previous month, according to data compiled by the Korean Duty Free Association.

It said the number of people who visited duty-free stores stood at 4.16 million in September, down 6.7 percent from a month earlier.

Still, sales at local duty-free stores rose 36.4 percent in the first nine months of this year from a year earlier on increased buying by foreign tourists, especially Chinese, according to separate data.

Sales at 50 duty-free stores nationwide came to 8.93 trillion won ($7.9 billion) in the January-September period, compared to 6.55 trillion won a year ago, according to data compiled by Korea Customs Service.

If the current sales trend continues, annual sales at duty-free stores could top 10 trillion won for the first time this year.

Korea Tourism Organization said 11.48 million foreigners came to South Korea in the first eight months of this year, the latest months for which official data is available. Among them, Chinese accounted for 48 percent. (Yonhap)