FX.co ★ South Korea Manufacturing Sentiment Weakens

South Korea’s manufacturing Business Survey Index slipped to 81 in August 2026 from 82 in July, signaling a further weakening in overall business conditions. The production index inched down to 92 from 93, and the new orders index held steady at 92. The inventories index eased to 100 from 101, while the financial situation index edged up to 82 from 81, suggesting a slight improvement in firms’ financial health. In contrast to the softer current indicators, the manufacturing Composite Business Sentiment Index rose by 0.6 points to 103.8 in August, and the outlook index for the following month climbed 2.0 points to 102.5, indicating a modest uptick in business sentiment despite the deterioration in present conditions.