Korea: Industrial production rebounds in October
Industrial production in the mining, manufacturing, and gas and electricity sectors jumped 10.7% in October compared to the same month a year earlier, contrasting the 8.4% decrease in September, which was the largest decline in industrial output in nine-and-a-half years. The average annual change in industrial production improved from -1.7% in September to -0.4% in October.
Output in the manufacturing sector—which accounts for most of industrial production in Korea—rose 11.1% in October, contrasting the 8.9% fall in September. This was due to a rebound in output destined for both domestic and foreign markets. Meanwhile, the average factory capacity utilization rate ticked up to 74.0% in October from 73.8% in September, while inventory levels increased.
A month-on-month comparison adjusted for seasonality shows that industrial production rose 1.0% in October, contrasting the 2.7% decrease in September.