South Korea enjoyed record exports last year, data shows, despite slow economic growth in key market China and a sluggish recovery in Europe.
For the whole of 2014, overseas shipments grew 2.4 per cent to $US573.1 billion ($A620 billion) and imports rose 2.0 per cent to $US525.70 billion, the trade ministry said.
As a result, South Korea's trade surplus widened to a record high of $US47.41 billion, it said. The trade balance has been in the black since February 2012.
In December alone, exports rose 3.7 per cent year on year to $US49.74 billion, while imports fell 0.9 per cent to $US43.96 billion. Trade surplus widened to $US5.78 billion in December from the previous month's $US5.51 billion.
The trade ministry attributed the 2014 increase in exports partly to South Korea's free-trade agreements, including with the United States.
Last year exports to the US increased 13.4 per cent, while those to China fell 0.9 per cent, it said.
The ministry predicted South Korea's overall exports are expected to rise 3.7 per cent to $US594 billion this year.
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