The S&P Global South Korea Manufacturing PMI came in at 51.1 in February 2026, easing marginally from 51.2 in January but signaling a third straight month of expansion in factory activity. Firms reported firmer output growth alongside a solid increase in new orders. Manufacturers frequently cited a strengthening semiconductor industry, which lifted sales to both domestic and overseas clients and shaped purchasing activity during the month. However, corporate restructuring efforts and the non-replacement of departing staff led to the sharpest contraction in employment since September 2020. At the same time, companies indicated a continued and pronounced rise in operating costs, largely attributed to elevated raw material prices and exchange rate volatility. Looking ahead, sentiment toward the year-ahead outlook remained positive midway through the first quarter, supported by the ramp-up in mass production of newly launched products and further gains in both domestic and external demand. source: S&P Global

Manufacturing PMI in South Korea decreased to 51.10 points in February from 51.20 points in January of 2026. Manufacturing PMI in South Korea averaged 49.58 points from 2011 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 55.30 points in February of 2021 and a record low of 41.30 points in May of 2020. This page provides the latest reported value for - South Korea Manufacturing PMI - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

Manufacturing PMI in South Korea decreased to 51.10 points in February from 51.20 points in January of 2026. Manufacturing PMI in South Korea is expected to be 51.30 points by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the South Korea Manufacturing PMI is projected to trend around 51.20 points in 2027, according to our econometric models.



Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Business Confidence 72.00 73.00 points Feb 2026
Capacity Utilization 104.70 105.70 points Jan 2026
Car Production 360500.00 362564.00 Units Jan 2026
Car Registrations 120787.00 144882.00 Units Jan 2026
Changes in Inventories 2945.00 1685.00 KRW Billion Dec 2025
Coincident Index 113.60 113.60 points Dec 2025
Composite Leading Indicator 102.15 101.89 points Feb 2026
Corruption Index 63.00 64.00 Points Dec 2025
Corruption Rank 31.00 30.00 Dec 2025
Electricity Production 22501.10 21621.51 Gigawatt-hour Dec 2025
Industrial Production YoY 7.10 1.40 percent Jan 2026
Industrial Production MoM -1.90 1.50 percent Jan 2026
Leading Economic Index 124.20 123.10 points Jan 2026
Manufacturing Production YoY 7.20 1.40 percent Jan 2026
Mining Production -1.90 0.10 percent Jan 2026
New Orders 13971611.00 13968822.00 KRW Million Jan 2026
Steel Production 5600.00 5200.00 Thousand Tonnes Jan 2026


South Korea Manufacturing PMI
The IHS Markit South Korea Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index measures the performance of the manufacturing sector and is derived from a survey of 400 manufacturing companies. The Index is based on five individual indexes with the following weights: New Orders (30 percent), Output (25 percent), Employment (20 percent), Suppliers’ Delivery Times (15 percent) and Stock of Items Purchased (10 percent), with the Delivery Times index inverted so that it moves in a comparable direction. A reading above 50 indicates an expansion of the manufacturing sector compared to the previous month; below 50 represents a contraction; while 50 indicates no change. This is only a limited sample of PMI headline data displayed on the Customer’s service, under licence from S&P Global. Full historic PMI headline data and all other PMI sub-index data and histories are available on subscription from S&P Global. Contact economics@spglobal.com for more details.

News Stream
South Korea Manufacturing Expands for 3rd Month
The S&P Global South Korea Manufacturing PMI came in at 51.1 in February 2026, easing marginally from 51.2 in January but signaling a third straight month of expansion in factory activity. Firms reported firmer output growth alongside a solid increase in new orders. Manufacturers frequently cited a strengthening semiconductor industry, which lifted sales to both domestic and overseas clients and shaped purchasing activity during the month. However, corporate restructuring efforts and the non-replacement of departing staff led to the sharpest contraction in employment since September 2020. At the same time, companies indicated a continued and pronounced rise in operating costs, largely attributed to elevated raw material prices and exchange rate volatility. Looking ahead, sentiment toward the year-ahead outlook remained positive midway through the first quarter, supported by the ramp-up in mass production of newly launched products and further gains in both domestic and external demand.
2026-03-03
South Korea Manufacturing PMI Hits 17-Month High
The S&P Global South Korea Manufacturing PMI rose to 51.2 in January 2026 from 50.1 in December, reaching its highest level since August 2024 as the health of the manufacturing sector strengthened. Three of the PMI’s five components contributed positively in January, including new orders, output and suppliers’ delivery times, while employment and stocks of purchases showed slight negative influences. Demand for South Korean goods picked up at the start of 2026, with Mainland China, North America and Europe all cited as sources of growth. The sustained increase in new orders supported renewed production growth in January, only the second gain in the past 11 months. The 12-month outlook also improved to the highest since May 2022 as manufacturers anticipated new product lines, diversification and expanded capacity to drive growth. Inflationary pressures, however, persisted, likely fueled by a weak exchange rate and higher metals prices.
2026-02-02
South Korea Manufacturing PMI Hits 3-Month High
The S&P Global South Korea Manufacturing PMI increased to 50.1 in December 2025, up from 49.4 in November. It marked the first expansion in the sector in three months and the fastest pace since September, as new orders rose for the first time in three months and recorded their steepest increase since November 2024. New export orders also returned to expansion territory for the first time since September, due to improved demand. Employment rose, while purchasing activity climbed for the first time since September and at the fastest pace since August 2024. Meanwhile, output continued to decline, albeit at a softer pace than in November. On prices, input cost inflation accelerated to its highest level since July 2022, amid higher raw material prices and unfavourable exchange-rate fluctuations. As a result, output cost inflation rose to a nine-month high. Finally, sentiment strengthened to its highest level since May 2022, driven by hopes of higher sales, supported by new product launches.
2026-01-02