The combined market share of the top three Korean battery makers is on a steady decline.SNE Research announced on April 8 that the total battery usage of electric vehicles registered in the world was about 92.4 GWh, up 27.0 percent year on year in January and February.The share of the top three Kore
Hyundai Motor and Kia Corp. have decided to use lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) batteries produced by Indian companies in their customized electric vehicle models for the Indian market. Localizing batteries that account for 40 percent of the cost of producing electric vehicles is a way to lower prices
Despite challenging business conditions, South Korean petrochemical companies have been disclosed to make record-high investments in research and development (R&D). This strategic initiative is seen as an endeavor to strengthen competitiveness in emerging business sectors like high-value added (spec
During his visit to the United States, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen met with China’s “second-in-command,” Premier Li Qiang, raising concerns once again over China’s issue of overproduction. Premier Li responded by stating that the low-cost production of solar panels and electric vehicles, which t
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Choi Sang-mok has highlighted the need for a new growth model as South Korea transitions from a beneficiary of China’s growth to a competitor, according to a report by the Financial Times (FT) on April 8.In a recent interview with FT, Deputy
While global ship orders in 2024 fell from 2023, orders for high-value-added ships such as liquefied natural gas (LNG) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) carriers are on the rise, bringing smiles to Korean shipbuilders.According to Clarkson Research, a British shipbuilding and shipping market analyst
Recent opinion polls suggest that former President Donald Trump is leading in the race in swing states among potential candidates for the upcoming November U.S. presidential election, raising concerns about trade pressure from the United States. During his tenure, former President Trump considered t
Korea’s shipbuilding order intake surpassed China’s for the first time in three years in the first quarter of 2024.The Korean Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) announced that shipbuilding orders in the first quarter of this year totaled US$13.6 billion, surpassing China’s US$12.6 billio
K-Beauty’s diversification of export products and destinations has been evident. The continued success of products like color cosmetics since last year, and a decreasing dependence on China in favor of exports to a variety of other countries, has been a notable trend.According to the Korea Customs S
As Taiwan, located on the “Ring of Fire” in the Pacific Ocean, faces its strongest earthquake since the “921 Earthquake” of 1999, concerns about the spread of the damage are growing.Taiwan, a leading nation in advanced semiconductor production, is in the spotlight due to production disruptions at TS
Domestic individual investors have surpassed the milestone of holding over 113 trillion won in overseas stocks, marking a historic high. With the KOSPI index rising by 3 percent in the first quarter of this year, major foreign markets such as the United States and Japan surged by over 10 percent, de
It has been revealed that South Korea’s foreign reserves in March increased by approximately US$3.5 billion compared to the previous month.On April 3, the Bank of Korea announced the “Foreign Reserves at the End of March.” According to this data, South Korea’s foreign reserves last month amounted to
SPC Group’s bakery brand, Paris Baguette, announced on April 2 the opening of its 20th store in Singapore, located at Square 2.The new Singapore Square 2 store is situated on the first floor of the Square 2 shopping mall, which is connected to Novena Station. The Square 2 shopping mall is a complex
Samsung Electronics is set to reveal its “dream memory,” three-dimensional (3D) DRAM, in 2025, marking a first in the semiconductor industry. The move is seen as Samsung reigniting its “technology gap” in the high bandwidth memory (HBM) market where it has previously lost ground to SK hynix.Accordin
Korea’s secondary battery exports were in a slump with the steepest downward curve among the 15 major items in the first quarter of this year, down more than 20 percent. However, the Korean government expects the slump to be a temporary one due to a plunge in raw material prices, and secondary batte
In the first quarter of this year, the declaration amount for foreign direct investment (FDI) has once again set a new record, marking the highest figure to date. Significant increases in investments in advanced manufacturing sectors, particularly centered around China and Japan, are expected to con
Korea’s exports jumped by 3.1 percent in March 2024 compared to the same month of 2023. The nation marked the sixth consecutive month of positive exports. Semiconductor exports also hit a 24-month high.The Korean Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) announced March export and import statis
Despite Chinese online shopping platforms like AliExpress, Temu, and Shein entering the South Korean market with competitively priced products, a survey reveals low satisfaction levels among domestic consumers.On April 1, the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry conducted a survey of 800 consumers
Samsung Display saw its market share for smartphone Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED) panels fall below 50% for the first time last year, facing intense competition from Chinese manufacturers. The surge in market share for companies like BOE, which have secured exclusive supplies for Chinese smart
Korea’s exports of beauty care products, which have been shrinking while going through China’s restrictions and the COVID-19 pandemic, are rebounding thanks to steady Korean Wave effects and increased exports to other regions.According to the Korea International Trade Association (KITA) on March 31,