Containers are waiting to be shipped at a port in Busan, March 2. Yonhap

Korea's exports increased 4.5 percent from a year earlier in the first 20 days of March, data showed Friday.

Outbound shipments reached $35.5 billion in the March 1-20 period, compared with $34 billion tallied a year earlier, according to the data from the Korea Customs Service.

Imports went down 1.4 percent on-year to $34.4 billion during the period, resulting in a trade surplus of $1.1 billion, the data showed.

By sector, semiconductor exports climbed 11.6 percent on-year to $7.07 billion in the cited period, and exports of ships shot up 80.3 percent to $2.23 billion.

Outbound shipments of automobiles gained 3.7 percent to $3.3 billion, and exports of wireless communications equipment surged 12 percent to $946 million.

On the other hand, exports of petroleum products tumbled 24.6 percent on-year to $2.14 billion, while shipments of steel products decreased 10.7 percent to $2.28 billion.

Exports of auto parts and home appliances dropped 5.9 percent and 23 percent to $1.18 billion and $355 million, respectively.

By destination, exports to the United States expanded 2.5 percent to $6.69 billion, and exports to the European Union advanced 15.2 percent to $4.2 billion.

Outbound shipments to Taiwan, in particular, soared 74.3 percent to $1.85 billion.

Exports to China, however, declined 3.8 percent to $6.4 billion. (Yonhap)