Korean construction stocks rise on nearing US investment deal

Korean construction stocks are rising on expectations that a U.S. investment plan could soon kick off with power plant projects, including a gas-fired plant in Encinal, Texas. The KRX Construction Index gained 9.44 percent from Sept. 1 through 11, beating the KOSPI’s 1.32 percent rise. Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan held talks in New York last week with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and is set to present the plan to the National Assembly on Thursday. The government expects its first investment later this month.

The KRX Construction Index rose 9.44 percent from Sept. 1 through 11, the strongest gain among Korea Exchange sector indexes.

The benchmark KOSPI increased 1.32 percent over the same period.

The index tracks 16 companies, including Hyundai Engineering & Construction, Samsung E&A and Daewoo Engineering & Construction.

Published Sep 13, 2026 4:40 pm KST

Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan answers questions from journalists after arriving at Newark Liberty International Airport, Thursday (local time), for meetings with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on Korea's $350 billion U.S. investment project. Yonhap

Korean construction stocks have been gaining ground on expectations that nuclear and other power plant projects could be among the first to get underway as part of a $350 billion U.S. investment plan, boosting hopes for new construction orders.

The first project under the plan could take shape as early as this week, with Korea and the United States nearing an agreement. At a ruling party-government meeting earlier this month, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources identified a gas-fired combined-cycle power plant in Encinal, Texas, as a potential first project under the plan.

The Wall Street Journal also recently reported that Seoul and Washington were nearing an agreement on more than $100 billion in U.S. energy investments, including eight nuclear power plants and natural gas projects.

Amid growing optimism over the sector, the KRX Construction Index rose 9.44 percent from Sept. 1 through 11, the strongest gain among the Korea Exchange’s sector indexes and well above the benchmark KOSPI’s 1.32 percent increase over the same period.

“As Korea will be directly investing in U.S. power infrastructure, Korean companies are likely to play a central role in the supply chains for the projects,” said Jung Hye-jung, an analyst at KB Securities.

But investors may soon have to look beyond the headline numbers. Much of the optimism over the U.S. investment program is already reflected in construction stocks, analysts warn, leaving the market focused on how much work Korean builders actually win and how profitable those contracts prove to be.

“Stock prices are likely to become more sensitive to the actual size of orders and expected profitability as the projects take shape,” said Kim Sun-mi, an analyst at Shinhan Securities.

That will depend in part on how Korean companies fit into the U.S. construction industry.

A Korean builder could take part in a project through a joint engineering, procurement and construction arrangement with a U.S. contractor, for example, rather than serving as the sole contractor. Whether project owners purchase major equipment directly could also determine how much revenue and risk Korean players ultimately accrue.

In this regard, Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan held talks with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and other officials in New York last week to finalize the scope, scale and terms of Korea’s planned U.S. investments. Kim is set to present the investment plan to the National Assembly on Thursday.

Once the details of the program are announced, the government is expected to make its first investment later this month.

Korea mulls acquiring Westinghouse stake in US investment package

Korea's $20 bil. US investment unlikely to pressure won: BOK chief

Korea eyes energy for 1st project under $350 bil. US investment plan: finance minister

受美国投资计划可能很快启动的提振，韩国建筑股上涨。该计划将启动多个发电厂项目，其中包括位于德克萨斯州恩西纳尔的一座燃气发电厂。9月1日至11日，韩国交易所建筑指数上涨9.44%，超过韩国综合股价指数（KOSPI）1.32%的涨幅。上周，韩国产业通商资源部长官金正宽在纽约与美国商务部长霍华德·卢特尼克举行了会谈，并将于本周四向国会提交该计划。韩国政府预计将于本月晚些时候启动首笔投资。

9月1日至11日，韩国交易所建筑指数上涨9.44%，是韩国交易所各行业指数中涨幅最大的。

同期，基准 KOSPI 指数上涨了 1.32%。

该指数追踪 16 家公司，其中包括现代工程建设、三星E&A和大宇工程建设。

发布于2026年9月13日下午4:40（韩国标准时间）

韩国产业通商资源部长官金正冠周四（当地时间）抵达纽瓦克自由国际机场后，回答了记者的提问。他此行的目的是与美国商务部长霍华德·卢特尼克就韩国3500亿美元的美国投资项目举行会谈。（韩联社）

由于市场预期核电和其他发电厂项目可能成为美国3500亿美元投资计划中首批开工的项目之一，韩国建筑股持续走强，提振了人们对新建筑订单的希望。

该计划下的首个项目最早可能在本周启动，韩国和美国已接近达成协议。在本月初的执政党政府会议上，韩国产业通商资源部将位于德克萨斯州恩西纳尔的一座燃气联合循环发电厂列为该计划下的潜在首个项目。

《华尔街日报》最近也报道称，首尔和华盛顿即将就超过 1000 亿美元的美国能源投资达成协议，其中包括 8 座核电站和天然气项目。

在市场对该行业日益乐观的情绪推动下，韩国交易所建筑指数从9月1日至11日上涨了9.44%，是韩国交易所各行业指数中涨幅最大的，远高于同期基准KOSPI指数1.32%的涨幅。

KB证券分析师郑慧贞表示：“由于韩国将直接投资美国电力基础设施，韩国企业很可能在这些项目的供应链中发挥核心作用。”

但投资者可能很快就需要跳出表面数字的局限。分析师警告称，市场对美国投资计划的乐观情绪已在建筑股中得到充分体现，因此市场关注的焦点在于韩国建筑商实际能赢得多少项目，以及这些合同的盈利能力如何。

新韩证券分析师金善美表示：“随着项目逐步成形，股价可能会对实际订单规模和预期盈利能力更加敏感。”

这在一定程度上取决于韩国企业如何融入美国建筑行业。

例如，韩国建筑商可以与美国承包商签订联合工程、采购和施工协议参与项目，而不是单独担任承包商。项目业主是否直接购买主要设备，也会影响韩国企业最终获得的收入和承担的风险。

为此，韩国产业通商资源部长官金正宽上周在纽约与美国商务部长霍华德·卢特尼克及其他官员举行会谈，最终确定韩国计划在美投资的范围、规模和条款。金正宽将于周四向国会提交该投资计划。

一旦该计划的细节公布，预计政府将于本月晚些时候进行首次投资。

韩国考虑收购西屋电气在美国投资计划中的股份

韩国央行行长：美国对韩国200亿美元的投资不太可能对朝鲜构成压力

韩国计划在能源领域启动首个低于3500亿美元的项目。美国投资计划：财政部长