Seoul: South Korea's monthly exports breached the US$80 billion mark for the first time ever in March, jumping nearly 50 percent from a year earlier on the back of record shipments of semiconductors, government data showed Wednesday. Outbound shipments totaled $86.13 billion last month, up 48.3 percent on-year, according to the data compiled by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources.

According to Yonhap News Agency, imports rose 13.2 percent on-year to $60.4 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of $25.74 billion. The significant increase in exports was largely attributed to strong demand for semiconductors, which played a crucial role in achieving this milestone. The trade surplus highlights the positive trade balance South Korea maintained during the period.