Corée du Sud - PMI manufacturier

The IHS Markit South Korea Manufacturing PMI increased to a seven-month high of 49.4 in November 2019 from 48.4 in the prior month and beating market consensus of 48.9. Output shrank at the softest pace since April and new orders fell at a relatively weaker rate compared to the average seen across the first three quarters of the year, as new product launches helped to partially offset the overall deterioration in demand. In addition, the job shedding rate was the softest seen across the current sequence of contraction. Meantime, export orders were broadly unchanged amid improved sales to China, Vietnam and the American continents, while declines were seen in Japanese, Indian and Hong Kong markets. On the price front, selling charges were discounted for a third month in a row, while operating cost went up faster amid unfavorable exchange rate variation. Lastly, sentiment fell to near neutral territory, amid negative expectations towards domestic and external economic conditions.

The IHS Markit South Korea Manufacturing PMI rose to 48.4 in October 2019 from 48.0 in a month earlier and slightly below market consensus of 48.5, pointing to the sixth straight month of contraction in the sector. Output fell at a softer rate, while new orders continued to decline amid weakening domestic demand. In addition, export sales shrank again following a brief stabilisation in September. Also, employment was reduced further in October, while firms cleared their inventories at a sharper pace in order to keep a lid on costs. Regarding prices, output charges were cut as firms sought to stimulate sales and boost competitiveness despite increased cost pressures. Looking ahead, business confidence strengthened to a 16-month high, amid new product launches, particularly in electronics and automobiles.

The IHS Markit South Korea Manufacturing PMI declined to 48.0 in September 2019 from 49.0 in the previous month and below market expectations of 48.1. The reading pointed to the fifth straight month of contraction in factory activity, as output fell further amid sluggishness in the domestic economy. Also, new sales dropped for the eleventh successive month while export orders stabilised as falling sales to clients in Europe, Japan and China, was offset by the entrance into new foreign markets. Additionally, the rate of job shedding accelerated to a 16-month high. Buying activity was trimmed amid weaker inflows of new work and stocks of purchases went down. On the price front, input costs increased as imported materials prices rose due to weakness in the won while output charges fell for the ninth time in the past ten months due to efforts to stimulate demand. Lastly, sentiment was subdued amid domestic challenging conditions and expectations of a global trade slowdown.

The IHS Markit South Korea Manufacturing PMI rose to 49.0 in August 2019 from 47.3 in the previous month, still pointing to a fourth straight month of contraction in factory activity. Output fell at a softer rate, while new orders declined for the tenth successive month, with firms attributing reduced sales to unfavourable global and domestic economic conditions. Also, export sales dropped further, with Germany, China, Japan and parts of Southeast Asia being mentioned as sources of weakness. Also, the rate of job shedding was the fastest in six months as firms opted to cut payroll numbers and not replace voluntary leavers. On the price front, cost pressures continued to build, as firms blamed won depreciation and higher raw material prices on an increase to input costs. Meanwhile, selling prices stabilised following eight successive monthly falls. Lastly, business sentiment returned to positive territory in August.

The IHS Markit South Korea Manufacturing PMI dropped to 47.3 in July 2019 from 47.5 in June, pointing to the third straight month of contraction in the manufacturing sector. Export sales fell the most since August 2013, despite the roll-out of 5G which is expected to inject some life back into Korea's export-driven electronics industry. Also, overall new business inflows and output continued to contract, while employment, input purchasing and stock levels were all reduced as firms look to trim costs amid downbeat demand forecasts. On the price front, input price inflation fell to the lowest in five months, while output prices were reduced for an eighth successive month. Finally, sentiment turned negative for the first time since the Future Output Index was introduced in 2012, as the recent escalation of tensions between Japan and South Korea weighed on sentiment, as well as forecasts of increased competition from China and global economic weakness.

The Nikkei South Korea Manufacturing PMI dropped to 47.5 in June 2019 from 48.4 in May. The reading pointed to the steepest contraction in factory activity in four months, as output fell the most since June 2015 and new orders declined for the eighth consecutive month and at the sharpest pace since February amid weakness in autos and electronics sectors. Additionally, new export orders contracted for the eleventh straight month and at the fastest rate since March due to damaging effects on activity of the US-China trade war. Also, employment decreased for the second straight month, with backlogs of work declining at the fastest pace in four years and buying levels contracted at the sharpest since November 2016. On the price front, input prices rose solidly driven by higher cost of chemicals while output charges fell for a seventh month running due to market competition and flagging demand. Looking ahead, sentiment remained subdued amid worries regarding China-US trade war.