Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy

MKE Releases Car Sales Figures for March

MKE Releases Car Sales Figures for March The Ministry of Knowledge Economy has released its car sales figures for March. Korea’s automobile production rose 6.3 percent year on year to 420,759 vehicles on the back of strong export growth. Rising demand for fuel-efficient vehicles, greater brand awareness and the Korea-EU FTA drove exports up 18.1 percent to 305,527 vehicles—a record high. Although the Korea-U.S. FTA took effect, high oil prices and weak consumer confidence pushed sa date2012-04-13

Retail Sales Figures for February

date2012-03-21

MKE Releases Car Sales Figures for February

MKE Releases Car Sales Figures for February The Ministry of Knowledge Economy has released its car sales figures for February. Korea’s car production jumped 41.8 percent year on year to 421,789 vehicles thanks to strong exports and more working days. Despite weak consumer confidence and rising fuel prices, domestic sales gained 5.5 percent to 113,565 vehicles. Strong sales of Japanese brands led imported car sales to rise 35.8 percent to 9,196 vehicles. Exports surged 51.2 percent to 299, date2012-03-15

MKE Releases Car Sales Figures for January

MKE Releases Car Sales Figures for January The Ministry of Knowledge Economy has released its car sales figures for January. Automobile production decreased 14.0 percent year on year to 333,353 due to sluggish domestic demand and fewer working days. Domestic sales fell 18.0 percent to 106,370 vehicles because of weak consumer sentiment and rising fuel prices. Although January saw fewer domestic sales of Korean cars, the introduction of new models pushed sales of imported cars up 9.0 percent. Ex date2012-02-21

Retail Sales Figures for January

date2012-02-17

Retail Sales Figures for December

date2012-01-27

MKE Releases Car Sales Figures for 2011

MKE Releases Car Sales Figures for 2011 The Ministry of Knowledge Economy has released its car sales figures for 2011. Even amid global uncertainties, exports maintained steady growth, posting a 13.7 percent year-on-year increase to 3,151,930 vehicles. Exports to the European Union and Asian markets surged 44.4 percent and 34.5 percent, respectively. Domestic demand rose 1.5 percent to 1,579,589 vehicles, but a worsening economic outlook and rising fuel prices weakened consumer sentiment and th date2012-01-12

1,000 Experts Gather in Seoul to Promote Innovation With Graphene

The 2011 Graphene Workshop took place in Seoul last week, drawing about 1,000 scientists and engineers from Korea and abroad.   Graphene is a carbon allotrope, like graphite and diamond. Allotropes differ in the way their atoms are arranged: a sheet of graphene is a honeycomb lattice of carbon atoms. Three million sheets of graphene are about 1 millimeter thick.   Graphene has been in use for less than a decade and is 100 times as strong as steel. It offers twice the thermal conductivity of diamond. Graphene-based transistors are 150 times as fast as silicon-based transistors, and graphene can conduct nearly 1,000 times as much electricity as copper. With applications in the semiconductor, display panel, secondary battery and automobile industries, this up-and-coming material has the potential to lead the world’s industrial development over the next few decades.   With significant graphene production capabilities as well as strength in related industries, Korea aims to take the lead in the global graphene market and is actively pursuing R&D to that end. The purpose of the Graphene Workshop was to encourage cooperation among government bodies, universities and industries to stimulate investment and technology development in this promising material.   * Released by the Metals and Chemicals Division date2011-12-27

Retail Sales Figures for November

date2011-12-16

MKE Releases Car Sales Figures for November

MKE Releases Car Sales Figures for November The Ministry of Knowledge Economy has released its car sales figures for November. Despite sluggish domestic demand, strong exports pushed Korea’s car production up 10.1 percent to 428,516 vehicles. Domestic sales declined 12.7 percent to 115,768 vehicles due to weak consumer sentiment and rising fuel prices. Sales of imported cars continued to increase 11.1 percent, recording 9,230 vehicles. Although global economic uncertainty prevails, export date2011-12-09