Export, which takes up about half of the export-driven economy, amounted to 30.4 billion U.S. dollars in the February 1-20 period, up 16.7 percent from the same period of last year, according to the Korea Customs Service.
The daily average export, which excludes the working day effect, advanced 29.2 percent in the 20-day period.
The double-digit increase was attributed to robust demand for tech products and cars.
Semiconductor export soared 27.5 percent for the first 20 days of this month, and shipment for telecommunication devices such as smartphone jumped 33.6 percent. Automotive shipment surged 45.9 percent.
Oil products shipment declined 5.7 percent in the period, and export for computers and peripherals fell 4.8 percent.
Export to China, South Korea's biggest trading partner, picked up 32.7 percent, and those to the United States, the European Union (EU) and Vietnam expanded in double figures.
Shipment to Japan grew 6.5 percent in the 20-day period, but those to the Middle East and Singapore slumped in double digits.
Import surged 24.1 percent from a year earlier to 31.6 billion dollars in the February 1-20 period, sending the trade deficit to 1.2 billion dollars.
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