SEOUL, April 15 (Xinhua) -- South Korea posted trade surplus for 86 straight months through March as export stayed in a high level, customs office data showed Monday.

The revised figure for trade surplus amounted to 5.2 billion U.S. dollars in March, staying in the black for 86 months since February 2012, according to the Korea Customs Service.

Export declined 8.2 percent in March from a year earlier, but it hovered around a relatively high level at 47.1 billion dollars. Import reduced 6.7 percent to 41.9 billion dollars in the same period.

The export fall came on lower price for semiconductors, of which export slipped 16.2 percent in March from a year ago. Shipments for automobile, oil product and auto parts declined, but those for telecommunication devices, ship and home appliances gained ground.

Export to China, South Korea's biggest trading partner, tumbled 15.6 percent last month, with those to the European Union and Vietnam skidding 10.9 percent and 2.5 percent each.

Shipments to the United States and Singapore advanced 4 percent and 9.8 percent respectively.