Of the figure, the country exported $ 4.4 billion worth of goods to and imported $ 14.4 billion worth of goods from South Korea, up by 32.5 per cent and 52.5 per cent, respectively over the same period of 2016.

Cell phones and accessories were leading the list of items exported by the country to South Korea in the first four months of this year with the export turnover of over $ 1.1 billion, up by 38 per cent year – on – year and accounted for 25.2 per cent of the total.

It was followed by textiles and garments with $ 786.8 million, up by 16.2 per cent; computers, electronics and components with $ 568.4 million, up by 59 per cent.

In the first four months of the year, the country’s exports of glass and products to South Korea increased sharply by 313 per cent; iron and steel – up by 170 per cent; rubber – up by 142.5 per cent; chemicals – up by 124 per cent; cassava and products – up by 107 per cent; coal – up by 101 per cent; and chemicals – up by 124 per cent year – on – year.

However, the exports of fertilizer; bamboo, rattan, sedge and carpet; and cameras, camcorders and components decreased by 57 per cent; 30 per cent and 44 per cent, respectively over the same period last year.