But the outlook for the local aluminium extrusion industry was believed to be less bright in the second half due to slowing demand from the local construction and automobile sectors and difficulties in developing export markets, they said.

"The local aluminium rolling mills' sales will likely increase in the second half as they are making desperate efforts to boost exports to offset depressed local demand," said Kim Soo-bong, general manager of the Korea Non-ferrous Metal Association.

South Korea's aluminium rolled product sales on the domestic market were expected to rise 4.7 per cent to 78,013 tonnes in the second half of 1998 from a year earlier and its exports to surge 67.5 per cent to 53,050 tonnes, Kim said.

The country's aluminium rolled product sales on the domestic market fell 38.2percent to 55,640 tonnes in the first half of 1998 from a year earlier, while its exports rose 25.8 percent to 40,477 tonnes, Kim said.