Korean industrial output dropped unexpectedly 0.3% year on year in November, much weaker than what market consensus has expected. On a seasonally adjusted mom basis, the industrial production declined 2.1%.
This performance was primarily led by electronics that lost some of its earlier gains. On mom basis, the production of semiconductors dropped 9.7% and production of mobile devices fell 20.2%.
The capacity usage rate stretched its drop and fell to 72.7% hitting the lowest since April 2009. Issue of inventory overhang also showed no improvement, with the inventory/shipment ratio staying close to 1.30x peak reached during global financial crisis.
"All in, we believe the broad trend of weak external demand but stronger domestic services activity remains unchanged. The softness in trade and production is likely to keep the BoK's monetary stance accommodative into 2016", says Barclays in a research note.


Asia Stocks Pause as Tech Earnings, Fed Signals, and Dollar Weakness Drive Markets
UK Housing Market Gains Momentum in Early 2026 as Mortgage Rates Fall
Bank of Japan Likely to Delay Rate Hike Until July as Economists Eye 1% by September
U.S. Eases Venezuela Oil Sanctions to Boost American Investment After Maduro Ouster
Fed Confirms Rate Meeting Schedule Despite Severe Winter Storm in Washington D.C.
RBA Deputy Governor Says November Inflation Slowdown Helpful but Still Above Target
Gold Prices Fall Amid Rate Jitters; Copper Steady as China Stimulus Eyed
FxWirePro: Daily Commodity Tracker - 21st March, 2022
UK Vehicle Production Falls Sharply in 2025 Amid Cyberattack, Tariffs, and Industry Restructuring
Indonesian Stocks Plunge as MSCI Downgrade Risk Sparks Investor Exodus
Best Gold Stocks to Buy Now: AABB, GOLD, GDX
Copper Prices Hit Record Highs as Metals Rally Gains Momentum on Geopolitical Tensions




