Exports in Exports last month set a record high for January by exceeding USD 60 billion for the first time. Shown are stacked containers on Aug. 7 at Pyeongtaek-Dangjin Port in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi-do Province. (Yonhap News)

By Yoo Yeon Gyeong

Exports last month set a record high for January by breaking USD 60 billion for the first time.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources on Feb. 1 said in a monthly report that overseas shipments last month grew 33.9% from the same month last year to USD 65.85 billion, while imports rose 11.7% to USD 57.11 billion.

This resulted in a 12th straight month of trade surplus, this time USD 8.74 billion.

Among the top 15 export items, 13 except for petrochemicals and vessels increased. Semiconductors (102.7%), wireless communications devices (66.9%), computers (89.2%), cars (21.7%) and displays (26.1%) all showed double-digit growth.

Semiconductors, the nation's top export, saw their exports more than double to USD 20.54 billion, their second straight month of surpassing USD 20 billion, a record streak. The ministry said this was thanks to the continued price growth of memory chips due to stronger demand for artificial intelligence servers.

dusrud21@korea.kr