South Korea's exports of agricultural and food products rose from a year earlier last month on a large increase in shipments to the United States and Southeast Asian nations, the government said Sunday.

Shipments of farm goods amounted to US$556.6 million in April, up 13.8 per cent from the same month last year, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

Exports to Japan, the world's single-largest importer of South Korean farm products, gained 3.4 per cent year-on-year to $110.5 million. Shipments to the United States spiked 22.7 per cent year-on-year to $57 million, with those to the 10 member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) also jumping 26.2 per cent to $107.9 million.

Exports to China, the second-largest importer of South Korean goods, slipped 0.1 per cent to $88 million.

"Overall exports to ASEAN countries rose greatly from the same month last year on growing shipments of processed goods, including tobacco and biscuits, and on increased exports of poultry products to Viet Nam," the ministry said.

By product, shipments of fresh foodstuff, such as vegetables and fruits, rose 6.3 per cent year-on-year to $104.7 million. Shipments of processed goods jumped 15.7 per cent to $451.9 million.