South Korea's exports of industrial parts and materials hit a new high last year due to solid demand from Southeast Asian nations, a government report showed Wednesday.

Overseas shipments of industrial parts and materials reached a record high of 256.2 billion U.S. dollars in 2011, up 11.8 percent from a year earlier, according to the Ministry of Knowledge Economy.

Imports grew at a slower pace of 11.5 percent to 168.6 billion dollars last year, sending the trade surplus in the sector to a record high of 87.6 billion dollars, up 97 billion dollars from the previous year.

The record surplus was attributed to growing exports to the 10 member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations ( ASEAN) and slowing growth of imports from Japan that helped reduce the chronic deficit with the neighboring country.

Exports to the Southeast Asian nations expanded 22.6 percent on- year to 30.9 billion dollars in 2011, sending the trade surplus to 16.3 billion dollars last year, up 5 billion dollars from the previous year. Shipments to China increased 6 percent on-year to 88.2 billion dollars, but imports from the world's No. 2 economy surged 21.6 percent to 45.4 billion dollars, narrowing the surplus to 42.8 billion dollars.

Imports from Japan rose 4.2 percent on-year to 39.7 billion dollars last year, but exports to the neighboring country grew at a faster pace of 23 percent to reach 17 billion dollars. The trade deficit with the nation stood at 22.7 billion dollars, down 1.57 billion dollars from a year before.

The ministry forecast that South Korea's trade surplus in the sector would expand to 95.2 billion dollars in 2012 helped by brisk exports to developing countries and strong demand for major items such as auto parts.

Exports were expected to grow 10.2 percent on-year to 282.3 billion dollars this year, with imports predicted to increase 11 percent to 187.1 billion dollars.