Sept. industrial output growth hits 15-yr high on chips; retail sales, investment also up

South Korea’s industrial production rose 3 percent in September, the fastest monthly increase in more than 15 years, according to data from the Ministry of Data and Statistics. Semiconductor production led the gain, while retail sales and facility investment also increased. It was the first time since June that industrial output, retail sales and facility investment all rose in the same month.

Mining and manufacturing output increased 9 percent, with semiconductor production up 19.2 percent, its largest gain since February.

The data ministry attributed the increase in chip production to higher output of memory chips, including dynamic random access memory products.

Automobile output rose 39.9 percent as production of auto parts and hybrid models increased and strikes at local carmakers and the summer vacation season ended.

Service output increased 0.5 percent, led by wholesale and retail, transportation and storage, including maritime shipping.

Facility investment rose 5.3 percent, with machinery investment up 4.7 percent and transportation equipment investment up 7.4 percent.

Published Oct 30, 2026 8:08 am KST

Updated Oct 30, 2026 8:25 am KST

Containers are stacked at a port in Busan, Oct. 1. Yonhap

Korea's industrial output expanded in September from a month earlier at the fastest pace in more than 15 years, led by chips, data showed Friday, with retail sales and facility investment also gaining ground.

Industrial production rose 3 percent on-month in September, according to data from the Ministry of Data and Statistics. It marked the sharpest gain since the 3.4 percent increase posted in March 2011.

It also marked the first time since June that the three major indicators increased simultaneously.

The overall industrial output grew on-month in June by 2.6 percent, which narrowed to 0.1 percent in July. In August, the output shed 1.2 percent.

Output in the mining and manufacturing sector, a key pillar of the economy, soared 9 percent, led mostly by semiconductor production, which jumped 19.2 percent. The increase in chip output was the largest since the 28.2 percent gain posted in February.

The data ministry attributed the gains to increased production of memory chips, such as dynamic random access memory (DRAM) products.

Other major gainers included the automobile industry, where output jumped 39.9 percent on the back of increased production of auto parts and hybrid models.

The increase in the automobile sector also came as strikes at local carmakers and the summer vacation season ended.

Production of medical, precision and optical instruments, on the other hand, fell 8.8 percent.

Service output also rose 0.5 percent on-month in September, led by the wholesale and retail segment, along with the transportation and storage industry, which includes maritime shipping.

Retail sales, a gauge of private spending, increased 3.6 percent over the period, with gains made across durable, semidurable and nondurable goods.

Sales of durable goods posted the sharpest growth at 4.4 percent, led by a rise in demand for cars. Sales of nondurable goods, such as foodstuffs, and semidurable goods, such as clothes, also rose 4.2 percent and 0.6 percent, respectively.

Facility investment moved up 5.3 percent on-month in September, the latest findings showed.

Investment in machinery gained 4.7 percent, with investment in transportation equipment also posting a 7.4 percent increase over the period, the report showed.

韩国统计厅数据显示，9月份韩国工业生产增长3%，创15年来最快月度增速。半导体生​​产领涨，零售额和设施投资也均有所增长。这是自6月份以来，工业产值、零售额和设施投资首次在同一个月内实现增长。

采矿业和制造业产出增长了 9%，其中半导体产量增长了 19.2%，这是自 2 月份以来的最大增幅。

数据部将芯片产量增加归因于存储芯片（包括动态随机存取存储器产品）产量的提高。

由于汽车零部件和混合动力车型的产量增加，加上当地汽车制造商的罢工和暑假结束，汽车产量增长了 39.9%。

服务业产出增长0.5%，其中批发零售业、运输仓储业（包括海运业）带动增长。

设施投资增长了 5.3%，其中机械投资增长了 4.7%，运输设备投资增长了 7.4%。

发布于2026年10月30日 上午8:08（韩国标准时间）

更新于2026年10月30日上午8:25（韩国标准时间）

10月1日，釜山港口堆放着集装箱。（韩联社）

数据显示，韩国9月份工业产值环比增长，增速创15年来新高，主要得益于芯片行业的带动，零售销售和设施投资也实现增长。

根据国家统计局的数据，9月份工业生产环比增长3%，这是自2011年3月增幅为3.4%以来的最大增幅。

这也是自6月份以来三大指标首次同时上涨。

6月份工业总产出环比增长2.6%，7月份增速收窄至0.1%。8月份，工业总产出下降1.2%。

采矿和制造业是经济的重要支柱，其产出飙升9%，主要得益于半导体生产的强劲增长，半导体产量跃升19.2%。芯片产量增幅为2月份28.2%以来的最大增幅。

数据部将这一增长归功于内存芯片（例如动态随机存取存储器 (DRAM) 产品）产量的增加。

其他主要受益者包括汽车行业，由于汽车零部件和混合动力车型的产量增加，该行业的产量增长了 39.9%。

汽车行业的增长也与当地汽车制造商的罢工和暑假结束有关。

另一方面，医疗、精密和光学仪器的产量下降了 8.8%。

9月份服务业产出环比增长0.5%，其中批发零售业以及包括海运在内的运输仓储业带动了增长。

零售额是衡量私人支出的指标，在​​此期间增长了 3.6%，其中耐用品、半耐用品和非耐用品均有所增长。

耐用品销售额增幅最大，达4.4%，主要得益于汽车需求的增长。非耐用品（如食品）和半耐用品（如服装）的销售额也分别增长了4.2%和0.6%。

最新数据显示，9月份设施投资环比增长5.3%。

报告显示，同期机械设备投资增长了 4.7%，运输设备投资也增长了 7.4%。