Industrial electricity sales in South Korea rose last month on robust export growth, a government report showed Monday.
Power sales in the industrial sector, a barometer of industrial activities, increased 0.8 percent from a year earlier to 21.97 billion kilowatt-hours in September after rising 2.3 percent in the prior month, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.
The increase came as exports, which account for about half of the economy, jumped 6.9 percent last month on a yearly basis after falling 0.2 percent in August.
Power demand from steelmakers and oil refiners expanded 5.1 percent and 8.9 percent each, but those from the chemical and auto sectors declined 1.9 percent and 0.8 percent respectively.
Total power sales, including household and industrial demand, slid 1.6 percent in September from a year ago due to lower temperature that reduced demand for air-conditioning.
Electricity demand for education facilities and household usage tumbled 9.4 percent and 6.3 percent each in September from a year earlier, with those for general usage falling 4.3 percent.
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