Wall Street Futures Slip as Tech Stocks Struggle Ahead of Key US Economic Data 
China’s Small Bank Consolidation Struggles as Profits Fall and Risks Persist 
Gold and Silver Prices Dip as Markets Await Key U.S. Economic Data 
S&P 500 Slides as AI Chip Stocks Tumble, Cooling Tech Rally 
South Korea Extends Bond Market Stabilization Measures Amid Rising Financial Risks 
Asian Stocks Slide as Central Bank Decisions and Key Data Keep Investors Cautious 
Asian Technology and Chipmaking Stocks Slide as AI Spending Concerns Shake Markets 
U.S. Dollar Slips Near Two-Month Low as Markets Await Key Jobs Data and Central Bank Decisions 
Asian Stocks Slide as AI Valuation Fears and BOJ Uncertainty Weigh on Markets 
Australian Consumer Sentiment Slumps in Early December as Inflation Fears Resurface 
Bank of Korea Downplays Liquidity’s Role in Weak Won and Housing Price Surge 
Gold Prices Slip Slightly in Asia as Silver Nears Record Highs on Dovish Fed Outlook 
Japan PMI Data Signals Manufacturing Stabilization as Services Continue to Drive Growth 
Dollar Struggles as Markets Eye Key Central Bank Decisions and Global Rate Outlooks 
Oil Prices Rebound as U.S.-Venezuela Tensions Offset Oversupply Concerns 
South Korea’s used car export industry is booming, offsetting the slowdown in new car shipments to the United States caused by steep tariffs. At Incheon, the nation’s largest used car export hub, workers are loading thousands of vehicles daily, many bound for markets in Russia, Central Asia, and the Middle East. Traders say demand for older Hyundai and Kia cars remains strong, especially as a weaker won boosts competitiveness.
According to trade ministry and customs data, overall car exports rose 9% year-on-year in August to a record $5.5 billion. Of that, used cars contributed $711.5 million, marking a 35% increase. In the first half of 2025 alone, South Korea exported 437,151 used vehicles worth $3.9 billion—72% more than the previous year. Used cars now represent about a quarter of total vehicle export volume and 13% of export value.
Industry experts note that while U.S. tariffs of 25% weigh on new vehicle sales, they may inadvertently lift global demand and prices for second-hand cars. Shin Hyun-do, director of the Korea Used Car Distribution Research Institute, emphasized that rising new car prices will naturally push buyers toward used alternatives, further strengthening the sector.
Markets in Russia and the Middle East are driving this growth. South Korea has even sold more used cars than new vehicles to Middle Eastern buyers this year, while exports to Russia surged 40% despite sanctions and restrictions. Japan’s restrictions on used car sales to Russia have also opened opportunities for South Korean exporters.
However, industry insiders warn that poor infrastructure at export hubs like Incheon, where vehicles are stored on muddy dirt lots, threatens the sustainability of this growth. Calls are mounting for government intervention to create modernized export complexes and establish a registration system for exporters.
With demand soaring and used car exports now recognized as one of South Korea’s fastest-growing industries—alongside cosmetics—policymakers are being urged to step in and support an industry that has become a vital contributor to national trade.
