Experts say, "The manufacturing economy is at its lowest level in two years...Semiconductor is the lowest in 19 months"

Manufacturing this month, as evaluated by industry experts, fell to its lowest level in two years.

The Korea Institute of Industrial Economics and Trade surveyed 133 experts in each major industry in Korea and found that the PSI for the current state of the manufacturing industry fell 19 points to 81 this month from last month.

Based on 100, the PSI means that the closer to 200, the more opinions of improvement compared to the previous month, and the closer to zero, the more opinions of deterioration.

This month, all PSI figures, including domestic demand and exports, production, investment and profitability, were below the benchmark.

By industry, semiconductors, the largest export item, fell 18 points from the previous month to 82, stopping the streak above the benchmark for the 18th consecutive month.

This Month's Semiconductor Status PSI is at its lowest level in 19 months.

The PSI for the business outlook for January next year was 75, the lowest in two years and two months, which is a big concern about the slowdown in the manufacturing industry.