韩媒：美关税令韩国汽车出口量五年来首次下滑

Group 1: Automotive Industry - South Korea's automotive exports are projected to decline for the first time in five years in 2025, with an estimated export volume of 2.71 to 2.72 million vehicles in 2023, representing a decrease of 2.3% to 2.6% compared to the previous year [2] - Exports of South Korean cars to the U.S. from January to October 2023 reached 1.10746 million units, accounting for 49.1% of total exports, which is a year-on-year decrease of 7.9% [2] - The U.S. tariff policy and protectionism are increasing uncertainty for South Korean exports in 2024, despite a reduction in tariffs from 25% to 15% under the Korea-U.S. tariff agreement [2] Group 2: Industrial Products - Several South Korean industrial products have faced significant challenges due to U.S. tariffs, with some companies reporting a complete halt in exports to the U.S. since June 2023 [3] - A South Korean company exporting industrial bolts and nuts has seen its products valued at 2 billion KRW stuck in warehouses due to terminated orders from U.S. clients following steel tariffs [3] - The number of inquiries to the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency regarding tariffs has surged, with 7,722 cases reported from February 18 to late November 2023, highlighting confusion among companies due to frequent changes in U.S. customs standards [3] Group 3: Currency Fluctuations - The high volatility of the Korean won is creating unprecedented challenges for South Korean export industries, undermining the traditional benefits of a strong currency [4] - Companies in high-cost dollar-settled industries, such as refining and steel, are experiencing severe impacts from unpredictable exchange rate fluctuations [4] - For instance, SK Innovation reported that a 10% increase in the exchange rate would reduce its pre-tax profits by 154.4 billion KRW, while major steel companies like POSCO indicated that a similar increase could lead to a net profit decrease of 548.5 billion KRW [4]