SEOUL, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's export posted 49.07 billion U.S. dollars in December last year, up 8.9 percent from a year earlier, a government report showed Monday.

Import in December advanced 13 percent over the year to 43.29 billion dollars, sending the December trade surplus to 5.78 billion dollars, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

Demand for locally-made semiconductors continued in the last month of last year as memory chip prices stayed at a high level on supply shortage.

Exports for oil products and petrochemicals posted a double-digit increase on demand in major economies showing economic recovery. Crude oil prices kept rising, boosting the oil product price.

General machinery export expanded on rising infrastructure investment in major economics, the ministry said.

Exports for automobiles and car parts declined on less business days and partial labor strikes of local carmakers.