Gold Prices Rebound in Europe as Geopolitical Tensions and Fed Outlook Support Bullion 
South Korea Inflation Rises to 2.3% in December, Matching Market Expectations 
USDA $12 Billion Farm Aid Program Draws Mixed Reactions from Row Crop Farmers 
Wall Street Ends Mixed as Tech and Financial Stocks Weigh on Markets Amid Thin Holiday Trading 
China Manufacturing PMI Rebounds in December, Offering Boost to Economic Growth Outlook 
Forex Markets Hold Steady as Traders Await Fed Minutes Amid Thin Year-End Volumes 
U.S. Stock Futures Slip as Year-End Trading Turns Cautious 
Oil Prices Slide in 2025 as Oversupply and Geopolitical Risks Shape Market Outlook 
Oil Prices Slip Slightly as Markets Weigh Geopolitical Risks and Supply Glut Concerns 
Trump Delays Tariff Increases on Furniture and Cabinets for One More Year 
China Imposes 55% Tariff on Beef Imports Above Quota to Protect Domestic Industry 
South Korea Exports Hit Record High as Global Trade Momentum Builds 
South Korea Factory Output Misses Forecasts in November Amid Ongoing Economic Uncertainty 
Asian Markets End Year on AI Optimism as Precious Metals and Currencies Shine 
Federal Reserve Begins Treasury Bill Purchases to Stabilize Reserves and Money Markets 
Singapore GDP Growth Surges in 2025 but Outlook Remains Cautious Amid Global Trade Risks 
South Korea’s export growth slowed to its weakest pace in 14 months, climbing only 1.4% in November. Declining shipments to the United States and China, driven by mounting tariff uncertainties, underline intensifying trade pressures on the South Korean economy.
Tariff Uncertainty Clouds South Korea's Export Outlook
According to trade data released on Sunday, South Korea's export growth declined for four consecutive months in November, reaching its worst level in fourteen months. This was due to a decline in exports to both the US and China, driven by uncertainty surrounding tariffs, Reuters explains.
Following a 4.6% increase in October, exports from Asia's fourth-largest economy increased by 1.4% year-on-year in November, reaching $56.35 billion.
Annual export growth continued for the fourteenth month in a row, albeit at the slowest rate in the series thus far, falling short of economists' consensus predictions of a 2.8% gain (as reported in a Reuters poll).
In a recent statement, the soon-to-be president of the United States, Donald Trump, promised to levy a 25% tariff on goods imported from Mexico and Canada—a move that is likely to have an impact on South Korean businesses—and "an additional 10% tariff, above any additional tariffs" on China, the country's largest trading partner.
US and China Shipments Decline Sharply
After eight straight months of growth, shipments to China were down 0.6%, while shipments to the US plummeted 5.1%, marking their first decline since July 2023. The increase in exports to the EU was 0.9%.
Due to strikes at key auto parts suppliers and shipping delays caused by severe weather, automobile sales dropped 13.6%, their worst loss since June 2020, while semiconductor sales grew 30.8%, the smallest growth in 11 months, Investing.com points out.
"The government will team up with the private sector and utilise all available resources to export even a dollar more by the end of the year," said Ahn Duk-geun, Trade Minister.
South Korea's Imports See First Decline in Five Months
The 2.4% decline to $50.74 billion in imports was in contrast to the 1.7% increase the previous month and the 0.4% gain predicted by analysts. The drop occurred after a five-month absence.
In November, the nation's trade surplus widened to $5.61 billion, from $3.15 billion in October.
