South Korea Industrial Output Growth Tops Forecasts

2026-04-29 23:05 By Chusnul Chotimah 1 min. read

South Korea’s industrial production grew 0.3% month-on-month in March 2026, easing sharply from a downwardly revised 5.3% increase in February but slightly exceeding market expectations for a 0.2% rise.

The growth in output was supported by a 0.3% expansion in manufacturing.

Services activity also rose 1.4%, while the construction sector and public administration contracted by 7.3% and 3.3%, respectively.

In the first quarter of the year, industrial output expanded 2.7% compared to the previous quarter.

On a year-on-year basis, industrial output rose 3.6% in March, rebounding from an upwardly revised 2.3% decline in February but falling short of forecasts for a 3.8% increase.



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South Korea Industrial Output Growth Tops Forecasts
South Korea’s industrial production grew 0.3% month-on-month in March 2026, easing sharply from a downwardly revised 5.3% increase in February but slightly exceeding market expectations for a 0.2% rise. The growth in output was supported by a 0.3% expansion in manufacturing. Services activity also rose 1.4%, while the construction sector and public administration contracted by 7.3% and 3.3%, respectively. In the first quarter of the year, industrial output expanded 2.7% compared to the previous quarter. On a year-on-year basis, industrial output rose 3.6% in March, rebounding from an upwardly revised 2.3% decline in February but falling short of forecasts for a 3.8% increase.
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