S. Korea's car imports grow over 10 pct in September

SEOUL, Oct. 18 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's car imports grew over 10 percent in September from a year earlier despite weak consumer sentiment here and growing economic recession woes, a government report showed Saturday.

According to the report by the Korea Customs Service, South Korea imported a
total of US$237 million worth of foreign vehicles last month, up 12.8 percent
from the same period a year earlier.
Cumulative imports of foreign vehicles amounted to $2.77 billion, accounting for
8.9 percent of the nation's exports during the nine months so far this year,
according to the report.
The September import growth is in sharp contrast to the 31.3 percent year-on-year
decline in exports by local carmakers, whose overseas shipments came to $1.79
billion last month, the report showed.
kokobj@yna.co.kr
(END)