SEOUL - 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 (GDP) advanced 0.6 per cent in the three months through September from the previous quarter, Bank of Korea (BOK) data showed on Thursday. Economists surveyed by Bloomberg had forecast a 0.5 per cent expansion after growth came in at 0.6 per cent in the three months through June.
The momentum in trade may accelerate this quarter. Early exports returned to growth for the first time in more than a year in the first 20 days of October, indicating the return of external demand that may help sustain the positive impact on GDP arising from net exports.
Semiconductor prices are starting to bottom out, kindling hopes that resurgent global technology demand will once again drive South Korea’s exports. SK Hynix, Korea’s second-biggest chipmaker, reported third-quarter sales that topped consensus, saying it plans to boost investment to meet growing demand. Samsung Electronics 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.
BOK governor Rhee Chang-yong remains confident the economy will grow around 1.4 per cent this year as forecast, but he noted this week that the Mideast tumult may force the bank to overhaul its 2.2 per cent 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 per cent in the latest period, reflecting caution at corporations.
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.
Mr 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. BLOOMBERG
