January kicked off strong for South Korea's export sector. Semiconductor shipments are on a roll—demand staying brisk across the board. But here's the catch: auto exports are cooling fast. Rising US tariffs are biting into that segment, making it tougher for carmakers to move inventory. It's a tale of two speeds—chips firing on all cylinders while the automotive wheel spins slower. For anyone tracking macro trends, this divergence hints at how geopolitical trade tensions are reshaping supply chains and reshuffling where capital flows.