SEOUL, July 1 (UPI) -- South Korea said Friday its exports increased 10.4 percent in June, lifted in part by soaring car exports, even as domestic car sales fell.
Exports last month were $23.9 billion over May's level, largely on big car exports as well as exports of semiconductors, petrochemicals and steel, Chosun Ilbo reported.
Carmakers Hyundai, Kia, GM Daewoo, Ssangyong and Renault-Samsung sold 2.55 million units in first half 2005, up 17.3 percent on-year. Exports increased 24 percent to 1.97 million units, despite the strength of the won.
Wireless communications sales to the United States declined.
Meanwhile, the domestic market for durable goods like cars, electrical home appliances and furniture has fallen by half in the last three years, an analysis of government statistics showed.
The internal market for small passenger cars went down 44.2 percent over three years, as color TVs fell by 44.3 percent and refrigerators slid by 47.4 percent, figures from the National Statistical Office show.
