Barclays economist Bum Ki Son reports that South Korea's technology-driven export growth is expected to continue to strengthen until the first half of 2026, driven by a surge in demand for memory chips. The economist notes that AI capital expenditure for large cloud computing service providers is strong, and the market demand for advanced DRAM chips is also strong. According to the economist, DRAM contract prices may have more room to rise in the first and second quarters. However, he cautioned that due to slowing global growth and rising protectionism, South Korea's exports of non-tech products may face a drag because the impact of US tariffs is increasing, and the tariffs imposed by Mexico on South Korean automobiles and steel will take effect from 2026.

Barclays economist Bum Ki Son reports that South Korea's technology-driven export growth is expected to continue to strengthen until the first half of 2026, driven by a surge in demand for memory chips. The economist notes that AI capital expenditure for large cloud computing service providers is strong, and the market demand for advanced DRAM chips is also strong. According to the economist, DRAM contract prices may have more room to rise in the first and second quarters. However, he cautioned that due to slowing global growth and rising protectionism, South Korea's exports of non-tech products may face a drag because the impact of US tariffs is increasing, and the tariffs imposed by Mexico on South Korean automobiles and steel will take effect from 2026.