South Korea September PMI Hits 4-Month High of 53.9 on Chip, Auto Export Boom

South Korea's manufacturing PMI rose to 53.9 in September from 52.3 in August, marking a fourth-month high and a tenth straight month above the 50 no-change threshold, S&P Global said on Oct. 1, 2026. New export orders grew at the fastest pace since March 2011, driven by strength in the semiconductor and automotive sectors, with notable demand from Europe and Asia. Output expanded at the sharpest rate since March 2021, while total new orders rose most since February 2021. Manufacturers' optimism for the year ahead climbed to an eight-month high. Economist Usamah Bhatti of S&P Global Market Intelligence attributed the expansion to the combined strength of the chip and auto industries.