韩国经济界准备组团访华，韩媒：三星、SK、现代、LG四大集团掌门人可能全参加。 韩联社22日引述韩国财界的消息称，韩国四大集团掌门人很可能于明年年初作为经济使节团成员出访中 国。分析称，这是自2019年12月前总统文在寅访华出席第八次韩中日领导人会议以来，大韩商工会议所 时隔6年再次组织经济使节团访华。当时，100余名主要企业高管陪同出访。 大韩商工会议所：计划组织约200家企业代表访华 多家韩国媒体引述上述消息报道称，此次经济使节团由大韩商工会议所（韩国商会）牵头组建，计划组 织约200家企业代表访华，目前正接受企业报名申请。韩国广播公司（KBS）报道称，三星电子会长李 在镕、SK集团会长崔泰源、现代汽车集团会长郑义宣、LG集团会长具光谟等四大集团掌门人极有可能 加入上述访华代表团。 韩联社今年5月曾这样描述四大集团在韩国经济中的分量：三星集团去年销售额为331.8万亿韩元（1000 韩元约合4.7元人民币），在GDP中占13%；现代汽车集团为279.8万亿韩元，占11%；SK集团为205.9万 亿韩元，占8.1%。三星集团、SK集团、现代汽车集团、LG集团和乐天集团的总销售额（1025万亿韩 元）在韩国去 ...

据韩联社12月7日报道，韩产业通商部7日发布数据显示，今年1至11月韩国累计出口额达6402亿美元， 增长2.9%，全年将大概率超过7000亿美元大关，有望创下历史新高。其中，1至11月半导体出口达1526 亿美元，已超过1419亿美元的去年全年出口额。但除去半导体外，其他产品出口为4876亿美元，下降 1.5%。在15个主要出口品类中，10个出现负增长。11月出口额中，半导体占比创下28.3%的占比记录。 韩产业部认为，除去半导体后的1.5%降幅仍然好于预期，预计明年钢铁、石化和二次电池行业困难持 续，AI和数据中心带动半导体需求旺盛，半导体出口占比将维持高位。 ...

Core Viewpoint - South Korea's export economy is projected to reach a historic high of over $700 billion in 2025, primarily driven by a "super cycle" in the semiconductor industry, while overall export performance reveals concerning weaknesses in other sectors [1][4]. Group 1: Export Performance - In the first eleven months of this year, South Korea's total exports reached $640.2 billion, a year-on-year increase of 2.9%, surpassing the total for 2022 and setting a record for the same period [4]. - The semiconductor industry is the main driver of this growth, benefiting from strong demand fueled by global AI investment expansion [4]. - In November alone, semiconductor exports accounted for 28.3% of South Korea's total exports, marking a new high for the year, compared to around 10% in the first decade of this century [4]. Group 2: Structural Weakness - Excluding semiconductors, South Korea's export value from January to November was $787.6 billion, reflecting a year-on-year decline of 1.5%, highlighting the vulnerability of the export structure [6]. - Several key industries are experiencing negative growth, including petrochemical products (-11.7%), petroleum products (-11.1%), steel (-8.8%), and machinery (-8.9%) [6]. - Exports of displays, home appliances, and secondary batteries also saw declines exceeding 9% [6]. Group 3: Economic Concerns - The heavy reliance on a single industry for growth raises significant concerns among economic experts regarding the health of South Korea's export structure [9]. - The semiconductor sector is characterized by high volatility, influenced by global technology cycles, geopolitical risks, and supply chain changes, posing a risk to the overall economy if demand cools [9]. - Challenges for South Korea's export outlook include global economic slowdown, ongoing trade uncertainties, and tariff policies from major trading partners, necessitating a long-term strategy to diversify and balance the export structure [9].

Core Insights - The South Korean government forecasts that the country's export value will exceed $700 billion for the first time in 2025, setting a new historical record, although exports excluding semiconductors are expected to decline year-on-year [1][3][4]. Export Performance - From January to November, South Korea's total export value reached $640.2 billion, marking a year-on-year increase of 2.9%, the highest level for the same period, surpassing the previous record of $628.7 billion in 2022 [1][3]. - Exports excluding semiconductors amounted to $487.6 billion during the same period, reflecting a year-on-year decrease of 1.5% [5]. Sector-Specific Trends - The automotive, shipbuilding, biopharmaceutical, and computer sectors saw export growth of 2%, 28.6%, 7%, and 0.4%, respectively, while all other sectors experienced declines [5]. - Notable declines were observed in machinery exports (down 8.9%), petroleum products (down 11.1%), petrochemicals (down 11.7%), and steel exports (down 8.8%). Additionally, exports of automotive parts, displays, home appliances, and secondary batteries fell by 6.3%, 10.3%, 9.4%, and 11.8%, respectively [5]. Semiconductor Dependency - In November, semiconductors accounted for 28.3% of South Korea's total export value, the highest proportion recorded this year, raising concerns about the country's over-reliance on the semiconductor industry [5]. - Historically, from 2002 to 2010, semiconductors represented about 10% of South Korea's total exports [5].

Core Insights - Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL) has filed an international patent application for a negative electrode sheet, secondary battery, electric device, and hard carbon material along with its preparation method, with the application number PCT/CN2024/118333 and international publication date set for November 6, 2025 [1][2]. Patent Details - The patent application was submitted on September 11, 2024, and is classified under several international patent classification codes including H01M 4/133 and H01M 10/0525 [2]. - The negative electrode sheet includes a current collector and a film layer made of hard carbon material, which consists of a core and a carbon coating layer. The core is made of porous carbon with specific pore volume and adsorption capacity requirements [2]. R&D Investment and Patent Activity - In 2023, CATL has published a total of 1,280 international patent applications, marking a 20.41% increase compared to the same period last year [1]. - The company invested 10.095 billion yuan in research and development in the first half of 2023, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 17.48% [1].

Core Viewpoint - Zhuhai Guanyu has acquired at least three Chinese patents from Panasonic, which may significantly impact the patent landscape in the lithium battery industry [2]. Group 1: Patent Acquisition - The three patents acquired by Zhuhai Guanyu include: "Secondary Battery" (Patent ZL201880018653.9), "Non-Aqueous Electrolyte Secondary Battery" (Patent ZL200880001215.8), and "Lithium Secondary Battery" (Patent ZL200710008331.X) [2]. - The transfer of these patents from Panasonic to Zhuhai Guanyu occurred between June and July of this year, but the corresponding U.S. patents have not yet been recorded as transferred [2]. Group 2: Panasonic's Patent Strategy - Panasonic has been actively monetizing its patents through various methods, including bilateral litigation and patent pools [2]. - Panasonic, along with LG, established the Tulip patent pool to promote licensing of lithium battery patents, aiming to collect licensing fees from Chinese battery manufacturers [2]. - Recently, two Chinese companies, Zhuhai Guanyu and BAK Battery, have joined the Tulip patent pool, indicating a strategic move in the industry [2].

Core Insights - The July import price index in South Korea rose to 134.87, marking a 0.9% month-on-month increase, ending a five-month decline since February [1] - The rise in import prices was influenced by increases in international oil prices and the Korean won's exchange rate against the US dollar [1] - The July export price index also increased by 1.0% to 128.19, ending a four-month downward trend [1] Import Price Details - Raw material prices increased by 1.5%, while intermediate goods, capital goods, and consumer goods rose by 0.6%, 0.5%, and 0.5% respectively [1] - Notable price increases were observed in methyl ethyl ketone, precious metal refining products, flash memory chips, and secondary batteries [1] - The exchange rate of the Korean won against the US dollar rose by 0.6%, and the average price of Dubai crude oil increased by 2.3% [1] Export Price Details - Agricultural, forestry, and fishery products saw a price increase of 4.2%, while mining products rose by 1.0% [1] - Significant price increases were noted in computers, electronics, optical instruments, coal, and petroleum products, with frozen seafood, diesel, and DRAM also showing notable rises [1] Trade Indices - In dollar terms, the July import quantity index and value index increased by 7.8% and 1.8% year-on-year, respectively [1] - The export quantity index and value index rose by 8.2% and 4.3% year-on-year, respectively [1] - The net commodity trading conditions index increased by 2.1% year-on-year, marking 25 consecutive months of growth, attributed to a larger decline in import prices compared to export prices [1] - The income trading conditions index rose by 10.5% year-on-year, benefiting from the increases in net commodity trading conditions and export quantity index [1]