South Korea’s economic growth held steady on the back of recovering exports, offering a sign of resilience as the central bank keeps monetary policy restrictive and sundry risks loom.
Gross domestic product advanced 0.6% in the three months through September from the previous quarter, Bank of Korea data showed Thursday. Economists surveyed by Bloomberg had forecast a 0.5% expansion after growth came in at 0.6% in the three months through June.
Semiconductor prices are starting to bottom out, kindling hopes that resurgent global technology demand will once again drive Korea’s exports. SK Hynix Inc., Korea’s second-biggest chipmaker, reported third-quarter sales that topped consensus, saying it plans to boost investment to meet growing demand. Samsung Electronics Co. recently reported a more moderate decline in operating income.
There are question marks as well. With an economy highly sensitive to changes in global energy prices and consumer demand, South Korean authorities face a myriad of risks ranging from the potential fallout of the Israel-Hamas conflict to the simmering geopolitical rivalry between the US and China.
Bank of Korea Governor Rhee Chang-yong remains confident the economy will grow around 1.4% this year as forecast, but he noted this week that the Mideast tumult may force the bank to overhaul its 2.2% growth outlook for next year.
“If the conflict continues into next year, it could drive up inflation, denting consumer purchases and therefore growth,” said Chang Jaechul, chief economist at KB Kookmin Bank. “It’s still too early to fold this into an economic outlook. For the time being, the third-quarter growth isn’t too bad.”
Meantime China, a key export destination, is still working on reviving its economic recovery. Beijing is also tightening its export controls related to graphite, alarming South Korean manufacturers who rely on China as a source of the material used to make electric-vehicle batteries.
Facilities investment fell by 2.7% in the latest period, reflecting caution at corporations.
What Bloomberg Economics Says...
“Sustained — and stronger than-expected — growth in South Korea’s economy in the third quarter will make it easier for the Bank of Korea to stick with its hawkish stance, keeping a focus on tempering inflation and containing debt. But that’s unlikely into translate into a rate hike.”
— Hyosung Kwon, economist
To read the full report, click here
Safeguarding economic momentum is crucial for President Yoon Suk Yeol’s government ahead of parliamentary elections next April that will determine the extent of legislative support for his agenda for the remainder of his single term that began in May last year.
Yoon’s five-year tenure began with a parliament controlled by the opposition, and his party’s defeat in a by-election in a Seoul district earlier this month further weakened his position.
At the board meeting, one member flagged the possibility of also lowering interest rates if required over the next three months as well as raising it. The other members excluding Rhee maintained their view that the central bank should remain open to an additional rate hike to fight price pressures if needed.
Consumer prices rose 3.7% last month from a year earlier, a quicker pace than the 3.4% recorded in August. Authorities see inflationary pressure easing from this month, with price growth slowing to the low-3% range by year-end.
From a year earlier, the economy expanded by 1.4%, the BOK said. Gross domestic income increased 2.5% from the previous quarter, it said.
Semiconductors, machinery and equipment led the increase in exports while petroleum products drove imports in the latest quarter, the BOK said. In terms of production, manufacturing increased 1.3% from the previous three months, led by computers, electronics and optical products.
Electricity, gas and water supply decreased 1.4%. Construction rose 2.4% and services expanded 0.2%.
