SEOUL, April 18 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's automobile exports rose for two months in a row despite weak demand in the domestic market, a government report showed on Tuesday.
Auto exports gained 4.1 percent from a year earlier to 4.12 billion U.S. dollars in March, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.
The number of cars exported in March declined 5.1 percent to 248,618 units, but strong demand for large-sized, premium cars boosted the value of car exports.
Car sales in the local market declined 2.9 percent over the year to 168,990 units in March. Imported car sales here tumbled 10.8 percent, while sales of cars, made by local automakers, shed 1.4 percent.
Auto production declined 2.7 percent to 406,897 units last month.
Auto parts exports fell 3.4 percent to 2.2 billion dollars as local automakers reduced production in overseas plants.
