Industry

  • ASMLs ambitious revenue target raise capacity upgrade room for memory chipmakers in AI heyday
    ASML's ambitious revenue target raise capacity upgrade room for memory chipmakers in AI heyday SEOUL, February 02 (AJP) - ASML’s ambitious revenue target signals greater room for scaling and production ramp-ups among chipmakers including Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, which together supply roughly 80 percent of the memory used in AI accelerators and hyperscale data centers. The outlook follows stronger-than-expected 2025 earnings from ASML, which reported total net sales of €32.7 billion ($38.8 billion), while fourth-quarter net bookings surged to €13.16 February 2, 2026
  • Samsung SDI swings to operating loss in 2025 on weak EV demand
    Samsung SDI swings to operating loss in 2025 on weak EV demand SEOUL, February 02 (AJP) - Samsung SDI swung to an operating loss in 2025 as a prolonged slowdown in electric-vehicle demand and shifting policy conditions in the United States and Europe weighed on performance, the battery maker said on Monday. In a regulatory filing, the company reported an operating loss of 1.72 trillion won for the year, reversing an operating profit of 363.3 billion won in 2024. Revenue fell 20 percent to 13.27 trillion won from 16.6 trillion won a year ear February 2, 2026
  • Hanwha Ocean hosts Canadian officials as submarine bid advances
    Hanwha Ocean hosts Canadian officials as submarine bid advances SEOUL, February 02 (AJP) - A Canadian business and government delegation led by Stephen Fuhr, Canada’s minister of state for defense procurement, visited Hanwha Ocean’s shipyard in Geoje on Monday as Ottawa advances plans for its Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP). Fuhr, who oversees procurement for the program estimated at about 60 trillion won, toured Hanwha Ocean’s assembly facilities with roughly 30 Canadian government and industry representatives, re February 2, 2026
  • Samsung mandates English for documents between overseas and Korean units
    Samsung mandates English for documents between overseas and Korean units SEOUL, February 02 (AJP) - Samsung’s major overseas units will adopt English as the sole language for documents exchanged both internally and with South Korea-based operations, part of a push to reduce inefficiencies from using multiple languages, the group said on Monday. According to an internal notice, Samsung will require documents shared between domestic and overseas operations at three key affiliates — Samsung Electronics, Samsung Display and Samsung Biologic February 2, 2026
  • Mobile shopping drives record online spending in South Korea
    Mobile shopping drives record online spending in South Korea SEOUL, February 02 (AJP) - South Korea’s online shopping transactions reached a record high last year, with cross-border online trade also expanding, official data showed on Monday. According to a report from the National Data Portal, total online shopping transactions rose 4.9 percent from a year earlier to 272.4 trillion won. Mobile shopping continued to dominate spending, rising 6.5 percent to 211.14 trillion won. Food services accounted for the largest share February 2, 2026
  • Hanwha Aerospace signs $922mln deal to supply Chunmoo rocket systems to Norway
    Hanwha Aerospace signs $922mln deal to supply Chunmoo rocket systems to Norway SEOUL, February 02 (AJP) - A joint effort to bolster Nordic defense reached a major milestone as Hanwha Aerospace secured a contract to supply the Chunmoo Multiple Rocket Launcher System (MRLS) to the Norwegian Armed Forces. The agreement, valued at approximately 922 million dollars, marks the first major defense contract for the South Korean company in 2026. The Chunmoo system is a multi-caliber rocket artillery platform capable of firing different munitions from two separate l February 2, 2026
  • Rising overseas demand pushes Korean seaweed prices to record levels
    Rising overseas demand pushes Korean seaweed prices to record levels SEOUL, February 02 (AJP) - Dried seaweed prices in South Korea have climbed to a record high as rising exports tighten domestic supply and fuel broader seafood inflation. Data from the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corp. showed Monday that the average retail price of mid-grade dried seaweed reached 1,515 won per 10-sheet pack in late January, the first time the period average has exceeded 1,500 won, or more than 150 won per sheet. Prices have risen about 50 percent ov February 2, 2026
  • K-economy analysis: hot chips, hot stocks — and a narrow growth base
    K-economy analysis: hot chips, hot stocks — and a narrow growth base SEOUL, February 02 (AJP) -A booming semiconductor cycle and a frothy equity rally have lifted sentiment around the Korean economy, but the apparent strength rests on an increasingly narrow base, leaving broader growth and domestic demand lagging behind. Exports and stock prices are sending powerful bullish signals. Korea’s benchmark equity index surged to record territory in January, while outbound shipments continue with record-setting growth streak, fueling talk of February 2, 2026
  • Koreas Jan exports up 34% on doubled chip shipments, trade surplus streak for 1-year
    Korea's Jan exports up 34% on doubled chip shipments, trade surplus streak for 1-year SEOUL, February 01 (AJP) -South Korea’s exports jumped more than 30 percent in January from a year earlier, extending their on-year growth streak to eight consecutive months, driven by steamy semiconductor shipments. Exports totaled $65.85 billion, up 33.9 percent from a year earlier, marking the highest January figure on record, according to data released Sunday by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. Semiconductor exports, the country’s top export item, mor February 1, 2026
  • Korea signs $1bn-plus Chunmoo rocket deal with Norway
    Korea signs $1bn-plus Chunmoo rocket deal with Norway SEOUL, January 31 (AJP) - South Korea has secured a major defense export deal with Norway, with presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik saying in a Facebook post on Saturday that the Norwegian government had signed a contract to purchase the Chunmoo multiple rocket launcher system. The contract is worth about 1.3 trillion won ($970 million). Kang Hoon-sik, chief of staff to President Lee Jae-myung, said the agreement was finalized following approval by the Norwegian governmen January 31, 2026