AI Boom Keeps Asian Factory Activity Humming Despite Cost Pressures

Factory activity in Asia continued to expand at the end of the third quarter, driven by the artificial intelligence boom. According to private surveys, export powerhouses Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan saw manufacturing activity grow due to solid demand for chips and AI-related goods.

South Korea's factory activity grew at the biggest margin in four months, with export demand increasing at the fastest pace in 15½ years, as reported by the Straits Times Business. The country's purchasing managers' index stood at 53.9 in September, up from 52.3 in August, marking the highest level since May.

China's factory activity also expanded in September as easing weather disruptions allowed factories to resume operations. The WSJ Economy reported that gauges of factory activity in Asia signaled expansion at the end of the third quarter, offsetting cost pressures and supply disruptions.

Brief written by urgent.news from WSJ Economy, Straits Times Business, New Straits Times — 3 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.