The U.S.-China semiconductor battle has escalated into a “mineral war.” China, possessing core materials for semiconductors and electric vehicle batteries, is playing its mineral export restriction card in response to U.S. controls on semiconductor technology. Concerns over China’s weaponization of
In response to the United States’ semiconductor sanctions, China’s “Semiconductor Self-Reliance” strategy is gradually coming to the surface. Given the immediate challenge of countering U.S. sanctions, China is discreetly pouring substantial funds into attracting overseas semiconductor talent. Furth
Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) is actively carrying out marketing activities for European countries at the International Defense Industry Exhibition (MSPO) which kicked off in Kielce, Poland, on Sept. 5 (local time). The MSPO is Poland’s annual national defense exhibition supported by the Polish G
As South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol embarks on a tour of Indonesia and India Sept. 5-10, much attention is being paid to the South Korean defense industry’s issues with Indonesia and India. Indonesia is a major defense export destination with which South Korea has close military ties, although t
Mercedes-Benz has overtaken BMW as the No. 1 brand in monthly imported car sales after three months in the Korean imported car market. Audi remained in third place for the second consecutive month.The Korea Automobile Importers and Distributors Association (KAIDA) said on Sept. 5 that 23,350 importe
Sales of Hyundai and Kia’s electric vehicles (EVs) in South Korea are steadily declining. This drop is attributed to decreasing subsidies, rising charging costs, and intensified competition as imported car brands aggressively penetrate the domestic EV market.According to Hyundai Motor Group on Sept.
The Korea International Trade Association (KITA) has expressed deep concerns, indicating that the electric vehicle (EV) subsidy reform proposed by the French government might violate the Korea-European Union (EU) Free Trade Agreement (FTA). France is pushing forward with the introduction of new envi
“Every Mercedes-Benz vehicle in the world has a piece of Korea in it,” said Ola Källenius, chairman of the Board of Management at Mercedes-Benz Group in an all-electric showcase meeting with local media at Shilla Hotel in Seoul on Aug. 24. “Korea is a very important market. I believe our cooperation
Amid concerns of dampened consumer sentiment in the latter half of this year, imported car manufacturers are launching aggressive discount campaigns.According to industry sources on Aug. 23, the “Big Three” German car manufacturers – BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Audi – initiated their discount promotions
The domestic car market is rapidly reorienting around SUVs. For the first time, SUVs have surpassed 60% of the total new car market share this year.According to industry sources on Aug. 22, a total of 546,230 SUVs, including leisure vehicles (RVs), were sold domestically from January to July this ye
In the first half of this year South Korea’s steel imports showed an increase of over 10% compared to last year. This significant rise in imports is attributed to fluctuations in the exchange rates of major importing countries like China and Japan coupled with a domestic industrial boom leading to a
Korea’s coffee imports have shrunken this year, according to the Korea Customs Service. The decline is attributed to a drought that impeded global coffee production.According to the Korea Customs Service’s trade statistics on Jan. 21, the volume of Korea’s coffee imports from January to July this ye
Following a ban on overseas transfers of rare earth permanent magnet manufacturing technology at the end of 2022, China has decided to control the export of gallium and germanium emerging as next-generation semiconductor materials, starting from August. The Russian-Ukrainian war, which has been goin
Chinese companies that have been exporting solar cells and modules to the United States through Southeast Asia are facing a “tariff bomb” from the U.S. Department of Commerce. Hanwha Q CELLS, the solar division of Hanwha Solutions, based in Malaysia, stands to benefit from these tariffs.On Aug. 18,
South Korea, once the largest exporter to China, fell to fifth place among exporters to China in the first half of this year. This is because exports of intermediate goods to China, which account for more than 80 percent of South Korea’s exports to China, have been on a sharp decline. On the other h
The Mexican government’s surprise move to raise tariffs on steel imports by up to 25 percent from countries with which it has not signed trade agreements is expected to deal a blow to South Korea only, not touching the United States or Japan.The USTR announced on its website on Aug. 18 (local time)
With the rise in interest rates and an increase in the sales of high-priced vehicles, the import car industry is experiencing a significant boost in profits from automotive installment financing.According to industry sources on Aug. 16, Mercedes-Benz Financial Services Korea, an affiliate of domesti
For two consecutive months Japan has surpassed China to rank second in South Korea’s trade deficit rankings, following a narrowing deficit with China.According to the “July 2023 Export and Import Trends” report released by the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy on Aug. 13, the trade deficit wit
Hyundai Motor Group has initiated the development of electric vehicle motors that do not utilize “rare earth elements,” which are heavily dependent on China.According to industry sources on Aug. 13, Hyundai Motor Group is currently developing a propulsion motor at its Namyang Research Center in Hwas
A total of approximately 14,000 vehicles across 8 different brands and 21 models, including Kia and Mercedes-Benz, have been identified for a recall.The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has revealed that a total of 14,057 vehicles from 21 different models, produced or imported and sold