South Korea's exports of eco-friendly vehicles jumped 40 percent in 2020 from a year earlier on growing demand for less-emitting cars.

According to data by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy on Sunday, exports of all-electric and hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicles came to four-point-six billion U.S. dollars last year, up 33-point-nine percent from a year ago.

The ministry said environment-friendly vehicles accounted for 12-point-three percent of the country's overall vehicle shipments last year.

The ratio is on a steady rise from a mere point-eight percent in 2016 to two-point-two percent in 2017, four-point-four percent in 2018 and seven-point-seven percent in 2019.

South Korea's exports of all-electric vehicles, such as Hyundai Motor's Kona EV, came to over 112-thousand units during the first eleven months of last year, up 67-point-two percent on-year.

Shipments of hydrogen cars increased by 24-point-three percent on-year to 865 units during the period.