Battery Supply Chain: Himadri Speciality Chemical boosted its stake in U.S. battery tech firm IBC to 20.47% after a fresh $0.66m investment, aiming to commercialize LFP cathode active materials and advanced anodes, with access to IBC’s California R&D and manufacturing footprint in South Korea. Industrial Projects: Karnataka approved 55 industrial projects worth Rs 7,506 crore, including aerospace and electronics system design, with foreign investors such as South Korea’s YJ Link among the mix. Robotics & Automation: IFR data shows U.S. industrial robot installations rose 11% in 2025, with food and other non-auto sectors driving growth—while South Korea remains the most automated market by robot density. Currency & Chips: Despite strong AI memory chip exports and a trade surplus, the won stays near multi-year lows as Koreans’ heavy buying of U.S. tech shares drains capital. Rail & Manufacturing Exports: Hyundai Rotem and Morocco’s ONCF signed a $487m, 20-year railway maintenance JV for Korean-supplied double-decker electric trains. E-commerce Trade Links: South Korean sellers are increasingly using Chinese platforms like JD Worldwide and Tmall Global to reach China without local setups, led by beauty, processed foods, and health products. Energy Shipping Watch: Markets tracked progress on reopening the Strait of Hormuz after a U.S.-Iran framework, a key swing factor for oil, shipping, and regional industrial costs.