SEOUL,KOREA - Korea’s domestic investment in plants and equipment is expected to mark a slight year-to-year growth next year. By industry, “food and beverage,” “machinery,” and “automobile” industries are likely to record a positive growth in facility investment next year, while those of “petrochemical” and “home electronics” are forecast to remain sluggish.

According to a survey on 2013 facility investment plans conducted by the Korea Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) with 500 manufacturing companies, next year’s plans for investment in plants and equipment are likely to mark an average growth of 1.3 percent.

By corporate size, large companies are expected to register a 4.5-percent growth in investment next year, in contrast to a 0.4-percent decline for small- and medium-sized enterprises.

A KCCI official said, “Corporate facility investment remained sluggish this year due to a slowdown in exports and depressed domestic demand. As economic uncertainties are expected to linger in 2013, corporate facility investment for 2013 is likely to remain at a level similar to those of 2012.”

enews@hankyung.com

*Article provided by The Korea Economic Daily

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