South Korea's imports of steel products rose 33.4 percent in the first quarter of this year from a year earlier, The Korea Iron and Steel Association ( KOSA) said Tuesday.

According to a report by the KOSA, the expansion of steel imports was mainly driven by increased demand for Chinese iron bars and other steel products.

South Korea imported 6.44 million tons of steel products in the first three months of this year, while exports of steel products rose 4.3 percent to 4.79 million tons during the same period, the KOSA said.

The association expects the country's steel imports to hit a record high of over 25 million tons this year. In 2006, South Korea's steel imports reached 22.5 million tons.