“Semiconductors get out”… ‘Export filial piety’ domestically produced triple rebound in production, domestic demand, and export last month

▲ Automobile export.ⓒ Yonhap News

Domestic sales were totaled 13,7692 units. All domestic cars up to the top 5 in the most sales were occupied. Grandeur, which ranked first in annual sales last year, sold the most last month. The effect of new cars such as Granger, Tucson, and Carnival continued, and the number of business days increased by two days, up 18.4% from last year. Imports sold 22,317 cars, an increase of 27.3% from a year ago. European and Japanese brands were sluggish, but German brands such as Mercedes and BMW (BMW) showed good performance.

▲ General table of domestic automobile industry in January.ⓒ Ministry of Industry

It has been only five months since September last year that automobile production, domestic demand, and exports all grew. In December of last year, production decreased by 12.0%, domestic demand decreased by 6.0%, and export decreased by 14.6%. It was sluggish due to a partial strike by the Kia Motors union and shrinking demand in the European market following the re-proliferation of Corona 19.

▲ Export trend of eco-friendly cars (large, %, billion dollars).ⓒ Ministry of Industry

Eco-friendly cars also increased in both domestic and export. Domestic sales were totaled 19,922 units. It increased by 126.4% from a year ago. It has been increasing for 12 consecutive months. Hybrid (128.6%), plug-in hybrid (484.5%), and hydrogen cars (75.3%) showed strong sales. Exports were 32,035 units, up 76.5% from last year. The share of total exports is about 25%. Exports reached a record high of $900 million (100%).

Auto parts exports recorded 1.81 billion dollars, a 3.9% increase from a year ago, driven by the strong SUVs in the North American market. It continued to increase for 3 consecutive months.