The import value index reached a new record high of 178.16 in March, up 28.3 percent from a year earlier, according to the Bank of Korea (BOK).
It continued to rise for the 16th consecutive month amid the higher commodity prices.
In terms of value, import for mining products surged 88.4 percent, with those for coal and oil products, metals and chemical products advancing in double figures.
The import volume index rose 5.1 percent over the year to 135.23 in March, keeping an upward trend for 19 months in a row.
The export value index jumped 20.9 percent to 153.28, and the export volume index gained 5.6 percent to 133.26 in the cited month.
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