SEOUL, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's export hit a record yearly high last year thanks to strong demand for locally-made semiconductors and ships, government data showed Thursday.

Export, which accounts for about half of the export-driven economy, grew 3.8 percent to reach a new high of 709.69 billion U.S. dollars in 2025 compared to the previous year, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources.

The daily average export gained 4.6 percent to 2.64 billion dollars.

Import stood almost unchanged at 631.67 billion dollars last year, sending the trade surplus to 78.02 billion dollars.

Of the country's 15 major export items, six products saw a growth in outbound shipment.

Semiconductor export soared 22.2 percent over the year to hit a fresh high of 173.39 billion dollars in 2025.

The surging chip shipment was attributed to the proliferation of artificial intelligence (AI) that led to strong demand for high-capacity, high-value memory chips used in data centers.

Export for ships jumped 24.9 percent to 32.03 billion dollars, while automotive shipment added 1.7 percent to 71.98 billion dollars.

Mobile device shipment rose 0.4 percent to 17.26 billion dollars, but display panel export dived 9.4 percent to 16.98 billion dollars.

Computer export gained 4.5 percent to 13.75 billion dollars, but those for auto parts and general machinery dipped in single digits to 21.20 billion dollars and 46.91 billion dollars each.

Export for oil products and petrochemicals retreated 9.6 percent and 11.4 percent each to 45.48 billion dollars and 42.51 billion dollars on the back of global supply glut and cheaper crude oil.

Dubai crude, South Korea's benchmark, averaged 69.4 dollars per barrel in 2025, down from 79.6 dollars in 2024.

Export to the United States declined 3.8 percent over the year to 122.87 billion dollars in 2025 owing to the negative effect of the U.S. protectionist moves.

Shipment to the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) swelled 7.4 percent to 122.49 billion dollars, while export to the European Union mounted 3.0 percent to 70.14 billion dollars.

Regarding import items, the import of three major energy sources, including crude oil, natural gas and coal, dipped 13.4 percent to 118.1 billion dollars last year.

Non-energy import expanded 3.7 percent to 513.5 billion dollars on robust demand for semiconductor equipment and general machinery.