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Corporate growth, profitability improve in Q3 on semiconductor uptrend: BOK

Published: 17 Dec. 2025, 15:42 Updated: 17 Dec. 2025, 20:38

Samsung Electronics HBM4, a sixth-generation high-bandwidth memory solution for AI and HPC applications, on display during the 2025 Korea Tech Festival in Seoul on Dec. 4. [REUTERS/YONHAP]

Korean companies reported improved overall growth and profitability in the third quarter, driven by robust semiconductor exports amid an AI boom, the central bank said Wednesday.

The combined sales of 26,067 companies subject to external audits rose 2.1 percent from a year earlier in the July to September period, reversing a 0.7 percent on-year decline in the second quarter, according to data from the Bank of Korea (BOK).

"The increase in sales was driven by rising exports of high value-added products, such as HBM and DDR5, amid expanding global AI investment, along with higher memory prices," Moon Sang-yoon, chief of the BOK's corporate statistics team, told a press briefing.

Sales growth in the machinery and electrical and electronics industries jumped 8.9 percent, more than quadrupling from 2.2 percent in the previous quarter. Excluding these industries, the sales growth rate stood at around 1.1 percent.

"The strong performance by some large e-commerce retailers, increased sales of imported EVs and solid earnings at digital platform companies also contributed to the upturn," Moon added.

Profitability indicators also improved.

The operating profit margin of the surveyed companies stood at 6.1 percent in the third quarter, up from 5.8 percent a year earlier.

Financial stability indicators strengthened as well.

The debt-to-equity ratio declined to 88.8 percent in the third quarter from 89.8 percent in the second quarter, while companies' reliance on borrowing fell 0.4 percentage point to 26.2 percent.

"Negative effects from new U.S. tariffs continued into the third quarter, but uncertainty has largely eased, and the strong performance of the semiconductor industry helped offset the impact," Moon said.

Yonhap