The index for facilities investment jumped 19.5 percent in February from a year earlier as semiconductor businesses are expanding their production lines amid a boom in the world market.

Imports of semiconductor manufacturing equipment skyrocketed 185.1 percent in March and 93.2 percent in February from a year earlier, upholding the upbeat trend that started last year.

The rising overseas demand for chips also led the country's upside trend in exports, which logged positive growth for five straight months in March.

Outbound shipments, the key economic driver for Asia's fourth-largest economy, rose 13.7 percent in March on a 41.9 percent surge in chips and a 63.3 percent jump in petroleum products.

Also, South Korea's imports vaulted 26.9 percent last month, as purchases of key energy resources and materials increased on rising oil prices.

On the domestic side, however, the KDI report said production and private consumption remained lukewarm, limiting the entire recovery pace.

Industrial output rose 4.2 percent in February from a year earlier on increased business days, but growth in the service business moved up 2.5 percent on-year, slowing down from the previous month's 2.7 percent. The average operation rate fell sharply to 70.9 percent in February from 74.2 percent tallied in January.

Retail sales edged up 0.5 percent on-year in February, compared to a 4.2-percent gain in the previous month, with consumer sentiment climbing 2.3 percentage points to 96.7 percent.

"Private consumption exhibited slow growth and the manufacturing capacity utilization rate stood low, pointing to a still moderately recovering economy," the report said. "The pace of economic recovery, now mainly in semiconductors, is not likely to be felt soon throughout the overall manufacturing sector." (Yonhap)