[BREAKING] Korea's economy grows 1% in Q3 on chip exports, beating forecasts

Korea’s economy expanded 1 percent in the third quarter from the previous quarter, in Korea, in the July-September period, the Bank of Korea said Tuesday. The growth exceeded the central bank’s 0.3 percent projection and was driven by semiconductor- and machinery-led exports. The stronger result puts the economy on firmer footing to meet the BOK’s 3.3 percent growth forecast for the year.

Facilities investment increased 4.1 percent, mainly as investment in machinery, including semiconductor manufacturing equipment, rose.

Investment in intellectual property products grew 2.3 percent as spending on research and development and software increased.

Exports rose 2.3 percent, led by semiconductors, machinery and electrical equipment, while imports increased 2.4 percent, led by crude oil and semiconductor manufacturing equipment.

Quarterly growth moved from a 0.1 percent contraction in the fourth quarter of 2025 to 1.8 percent growth in the first quarter, then 0.6 percent in the second quarter.

Published Oct 27, 2026 8:01 am KST

Containers are stacked at a port in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, Sept. 6. Yonhap

Korea's economy expanded 1 percent in the third quarter from the previous quarter, extending its stronger-than-expected recovery on the back of booming semiconductor exports, the Bank of Korea (BOK) said Tuesday.

Preliminary data from the central bank showed that real gross domestic product (GDP) rose 1 percent in the July-September period, exceeding the BOK's own projection of 0.3 percent for the quarter.

Facilities investment rose 4.1 percent, mainly on increased investment in machinery, including semiconductor manufacturing equipment. Investment in intellectual property products grew 2.3 percent as spending on research and development and software increased.

Exports grew 2.3 percent, driven mainly by semiconductors and machinery and electrical equipment. Imports rose 2.4 percent, led by increases in crude oil and semiconductor manufacturing equipment.

The stronger-than-expected growth puts the economy on a firmer footing to meet the BOK's growth forecast of 3.3 percent for this year, released in August.

The country's quarterly growth rebounded sharply from a 0.1 percent contraction in the fourth quarter of 2025 to 1.8 percent in the first quarter, before expanding 0.6 percent in the second quarter, also beating expectations.

韩国央行周二表示，韩国经济在7月至9月期间（第三季度）环比增长1%，高于央行此前0.3%的预期，主要得益于半导体和机械出口的增长。这一强劲的经济增长数据使韩国经济更有可能实现央行全年3.3%的增长目标。

设施投资增长了 4.1%，主要原因是机械设备（包括半导体制造设备）的投资增加。

随着研发和软件投入的增加，知识产权产品投资增长了 2.3%。

出口增长2.3%，主要得益于半导体、机械和电气设备的出口；进口增长2.4%，主要得益于原油和半导体制造设备的进口。

季度增长率从 2025 年第四季度的 0.1% 收缩，到第一季度的 1.8% 增长，再到第二季度的 0.6%。

发布于2026年10月27日 上午8:01（韩国标准时间）

9月6日，京畿道平泽市港口堆放着集装箱。（韩联社）

韩国央行（BOK）周二表示，韩国经济第三季度环比增长1%，在半导体出口蓬勃发展的推动下，延续了强于预期的复苏势头。

中央银行的初步数据显示，7月至9月期间实际国内生产总值（GDP）增长了1%，超过了韩国央行此前预测的该季度0.3%的增幅。

设施投资增长4.1%，主要得益于机械设备（包括半导体制造设备）投资的增加。知识产权产品投资增长2.3%，主要原因是研发和软件方面的支出增加。

出口增长2.3%，主要得益于半导体、机械和电气设备的出口增长。进口增长2.4%，主要受原油和半导体制造设备进口增长的推动。

强于预期的增长使经济更有把握实现韩国央行8月份发布的今年3.3%的增长预测。

该国季度经济增长率从 2025 年第四季度萎缩 0.1% 大幅反弹至第一季度的 1.8%，随后在第二季度增长 0.6%，也超出预期。