The U.S. was the largest export market with a value of $10.26 billion, up 25.7 percent. It was followed by the E.U. with $5.89 billion, down 4.6 percent. China came third with $5.48 billion, up 17.4 percent.

Top export category smartphones and parts value rose 12.2 percent to 7.56 billion, with the U.S. and E.U. the largest buyers.

Computers and electronics followed at $5.4 billion, up 27.4 percent, with a surge of 135 percent in value to the U.S.

Textiles came third at $4.7 billion, up 2.2 percent, but with a fall of 4.2 percent to China. The sector faced difficulties in the first two months as local manufacturers struggled to source materials from China where the novel coronavirus first erupted.