04.05.202600:30:00UTC+00South Korea’s Manufacturing PMI Climbs to 13-Month High in April, Signaling Stronger Expansion

South Korea’s manufacturing sector strengthened in April 2026, with the S&P Global Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rising to 53.6 from 52.6 in March. The latest reading, released on 4 May 2026, indicates a faster expansion in factory activity and keeps the index comfortably above the 50.0 threshold that separates growth from contraction.

The April improvement suggests that momentum in South Korean manufacturing is building after March’s already solid performance. While detailed survey components were not provided, the headline gain points to a broad-based pickup in conditions for producers, reinforcing expectations of continued resilience in the country’s industrial sector.

With back-to-back months of expansionary readings and a further uptick in April, South Korea’s manufacturing PMI data for early 2026 may support a more optimistic outlook among businesses and investors watching global trade and production trends in the region.