SEOUL, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's trade topped 1 trillion U.S. dollars for two years through last year as export surpassed 600 billion U.S. dollars for the first time in the country's history, customs office data showed on Tuesday.

Revised figure for export gained 5.5 percent over the year to 605.2 billion U.S. dollars in 2018, while import was up 11.8 percent to 535.2 billion U.S.dollars, according to Korea Customs Service.

The country's trade reached a new yearly high of 1.14 trillion U.S. dollars in 2018, topping 1 trillion U.S. dollars for the second consecutive year. Trade surplus amounted to 70 billion U.S. dollars.

The export exceeded 600 billion U.S. dollars for the first time on strong demand of oil product, automobile and ship.

Demand for locally-made semiconductor declined 8.3 percent, and those for display panel tumbled 33.1 percent.

Exports to the United States and the European Union posted a double-digit increase last year, but shipments to China and the Middle East shrank by a double digit.

Import of memory chip surged 82 percent last year, with those for crude oil and clothing rising in the year. Imports of machinery and automobile declined last year.