Hyundai Motor Group Makes Cars and Robots with US-Made Steel; Exports Already Surpass Last Year's Total, 'World's 4th Trillion-Dollar Exporter' in Sight

Summary

Kwon Soon-woo reviews three main news items. First, Hyundai Motor Group, Hyundai Steel and POSCO are building a Louisiana steel mill to secure tariff-free U.S. steel supply for vehicles and robots. Second, Korea's exports have already surpassed last year's total, driven by semiconductors and AI server SSD demand while auto exports fall because of U.S. local production. Third, the segment covers U.S. trade and semiconductor investment pressure and Hormuz Strait geopolitical cooperation.

• EU natural gas inventories are only about 65% full, raising potential natural gas price pressure.
• Hyundai Motor Group, Hyundai Steel and POSCO started a Louisiana steel mill project.
• U.S. steel tariffs and high U.S. hot-rolled steel prices make local steel production attractive.
• Korea's 2025 exports already surpassed the prior full-year total, with $1 trillion exports in sight.
• Semiconductor exports are strong on surging AI server SSD demand.
• Auto exports fell as Hyundai and Kia shifted toward U.S. local production; Kia set record U.S. monthly sales.
• Trade policy discussions include U.S. investment fund deployment, semiconductor investment pressure, and Hormuz Strait naval cooperation.