The Bank of Korea’s manufacturing Business Survey Index (BSI) edged lower in July. The headline reading came in at 79, down from 80 in the previous period.
The one-point decline indicates a modest deterioration in sentiment across the manufacturing sector, based on the central bank’s survey. A BSI level below 100 implies more firms reporting worsening conditions than those seeing improvement.
Signs Of Weakening Manufacturing Sentiment And Trade
We are noting the forward-looking manufacturing sentiment for July has dipped to 79, down from the previous month’s 80. This indicates that pessimism among manufacturers is not only persistent but slightly deepening. Such sentiment often precedes a slowdown in industrial production and exports.
This outlook is consistent with recent trade data, which showed South Korea’s key semiconductor exports grew just 2.1% year-over-year in May, a sharp deceleration from the first quarter’s average of 5.3%. We also observe that manufacturing PMI figures from major trading partners in China have failed to show significant expansion. This suggests external demand, a critical driver for Korea’s economy, is weakening.
Currency And Equity Market Implications
Consequently, we see downward pressure on the Korean won in the coming weeks. With the USD/KRW pair already consolidating near the 1,380 level, this negative sentiment could be the catalyst for a break higher. We are therefore evaluating long positions in USD/KRW futures or purchasing call options.
This sentiment also presents a headwind for the KOSPI index, which is heavily weighted towards large manufacturing exporters. Historically, periods where the BSI remains below the 80 mark have often led to market corrections of 3-5% over the following month. We believe purchasing out-of-the-money KOSPI put options for August expiration provides a cost-effective hedge against a potential downturn.
