Exports increased nearly 17 percent on-year to hit a record high in September thanks to robust demand for semiconductors and petroleum products.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said on Friday that outbound shipments grew 16-point-seven percent last month from a year earlier to hit 55-point-83 billion U.S. dollars.

It marks the largest amount recorded since the nation started compiling trade data in 1956. The previous record was 55-point-48 billion dollars tallied in July. Additionally, average daily export volume also hit a record high of two-point-66 billion dollars.

With the latest figure, South Korea reported growth in exports for the eleventh consecutive month since November last year. Cumulative exports in the January to September period stood at 467-point-seven billion dollars, the largest amount for the period.

Imports increased 31 percent on-year to 51-point-six billion dollars last month, with the nation logging a trade surplus for the 17th consecutive month.