South Korea's exports posted record- high in March despite external uncertainties such as the political unrest in the Middle East and the deadly earthquake in Japan, a government report showed Friday.

Exports shot up 30.3 percent on-year to 48.6 billion U.S. dollars in March, the largest monthly reading, with imports climbing 27.9 percent to 45.5 billion dollars, the Ministry of Knowledge Economy said in a monthly report.

The country's trade surplus for March reached 3.1 billion U.S. dollars, up from 2.5 billion U.S. dollars the previous month, according to the report.

The strong growth in March exports was attributable to brisk demand for oil products, ships, general machinery, autos and semiconductors, the report showed.

Exports of refined oil products and ships soared 87.8 percent and 70.1 percent on-year in March respectively. Shipments of general machinery and autos surged 53.8 percent and 24.8 percent each last month, with semiconductor exports rising 10 percent.

Shipments to Japan jumped 34.7 percent in March from a year earlier, with exports to the Middle East and the United States gaining 23.1 percent and 13.5 percent each, according to the report.

Imports grew sharply in March amid rising commodity prices, with inbound shipments for coal, crude oil and gas surging 66.8 percent, 60 percent and 22.6 percent on-year each.