Electric cars are assembled at a new Hyundai electric vehicle plant in Ellabell, Ga., Wednesday, March 26, 2025. Recovery in the manufacturing sector boosted South Korea's industrial output in February. - AP
SEOUL: South Korea's industrial output rebounded in February due to production recovery in the manufacturing, the construction and the service industries, statistical office data showed Monday (March 31).
The seasonally-adjusted production index in all industries, which excludes the agriculture, livestock and fishery sector, grew 0.6 per cent in February from a month earlier after retreating 3.0 per cent in the previous month, according to Statistics Korea.
Output among manufacturers gained 0.8 per cent in February, turning around from a reduction of 3.0 per cent in the prior month.
The rebound was attributable to higher production in electronic parts and electrical equipment.
Manufacturers posted an average capacity ratio of 73.1 per cent in February, down 0.4 percentage points compared to the previous month.
Production in the construction industry increased 1.5 per cent in February after dropping 4.6 per cent in January, but output in the public administration sector slipped 0.5 per cent in February.
Output in the service industry expanded 0.5 per cent in February, rebounding from a fall of 0.9 per cent in the prior month.
The retail sale index, which reflects private consumption, advanced 1.5 per cent in February on a monthly basis after sliding 0.7 per cent in January.
Facility investment swelled 18.7 per cent in February after tumbling 15.7 per cent in the previous month.
The cyclical variation factor for leading economic indicators, which gauges the outlook for future economic situations, added 0.1 point to 100.4 in February compared to the previous month.
The reading for coincident economic indicators, which measures the current economic condition, rose 0.1 point to 98.5 in the cited month. - Xinhua
