The Korea Times
Korean manufacturers are growing more cautious about the months ahead, as rising geopolitical tensions and uncertainty in export markets weigh on business sentiment, even as the semiconductor sector remains relatively strong, the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry said Wednesday. The group said its business survey index for the manufacturing sector stood at 76 in the second quarter, one point lower than the previous three months. The survey, conducted among 2,271 manufacturers nationwide from March 5 to 18, showed a widening gap between export-driven firms and those focused on domestic demand. The index for domestic-oriented companies rose to 78, up four points, while that for export-oriented firms fell to 70, down 20 points amid mounting external risks, including tensions in the Middle East. A reading above 100 indicates that more companies expect conditions to improve from the previous quarter, while a reading below 100 signals the opposite. Among sectors, semiconductors posted a strong outlook at 118, marking a second consecutive quarter of positive sentiment, driven by expanding
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