Rep. of Korea (KOR)

Annual exports and imports in 2024 (USD).

Source: UN Comtrade. Warehouse 1: partner = World totals by HS4 and year.

Exports

$683.13B

Imports

$631.73B

Total trade

$1.31T

Trade balance

$51.40B

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Rep. of Korea - trade dependency by partner, 2024 (USD)

Share of exports, imports, and total trade attributed to each partner.

Year: 2024 | Unit: USD | Snapshot: 20251222 | Source: UN Comtrade

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Showing top 10 partners by total dependency.

Rank #1

China (CHN)

Total

20.7%

Exports

19.5%

$132.90B

Imports

22.1%

$139.87B

Total

20.7%

$272.78B

Rank #2

USA (USA)

Total

15.3%

Exports

18.8%

$128.37B

Imports

11.5%

$72.49B

Total

15.3%

$200.86B

Rank #3

Viet Nam (VNM)

Total

6.6%

Exports

8.5%

$58.32B

Imports

4.5%

$28.44B

Total

6.6%

$86.76B

Rank #4

Japan (JPN)

Total

5.9%

Exports

4.3%

$29.60B

Imports

7.5%

$47.56B

Total

5.9%

$77.17B

Rank #5

Australia (AUS)

Total

3.5%

Exports

2.3%

$15.60B

Imports

4.7%

$29.95B

Total

3.5%

$45.55B

Rank #6

Saudi Arabia (SAU)

Total

2.8%

Exports

0.8%

$5.23B

Imports

5.0%

$31.45B

Total

2.8%

$36.68B

Rank #7

China, Hong Kong SAR (HKG)

Total

2.7%

Exports

5.1%

$35.02B

Imports

0.0%

Total

2.7%

$35.02B

Rank #8

Germany (DEU)

Total

2.4%

Exports

1.3%

$9.03B

Imports

3.5%

$22.29B

Total

2.4%

$31.33B

Rank #9

Singapore (SGP)

Total

2.2%

Exports

2.7%

$18.22B

Imports

1.7%

$10.56B

Total

2.2%

$28.78B

Rank #10

India (IND)

Total

1.9%

Exports

2.7%

$18.66B

Imports

1.0%

$6.43B

Total

1.9%

$25.09B

Rank	Partner	Export dependency	Import dependency	Total dependency
1	China (CHN)	19.5% $132.90B	22.1% $139.87B	20.7% $272.78B
2	USA (USA)	18.8% $128.37B	11.5% $72.49B	15.3% $200.86B
3	Viet Nam (VNM)	8.5% $58.32B	4.5% $28.44B	6.6% $86.76B
4	Japan (JPN)	4.3% $29.60B	7.5% $47.56B	5.9% $77.17B
5	Australia (AUS)	2.3% $15.60B	4.7% $29.95B	3.5% $45.55B
6	Saudi Arabia (SAU)	0.8% $5.23B	5.0% $31.45B	2.8% $36.68B
7	China, Hong Kong SAR (HKG)	5.1% $35.02B	0.0% $0	2.7% $35.02B
8	Germany (DEU)	1.3% $9.03B	3.5% $22.29B	2.4% $31.33B
9	Singapore (SGP)	2.7% $18.22B	1.7% $10.56B	2.2% $28.78B
10	India (IND)	2.7% $18.66B	1.0% $6.43B	1.9% $25.09B

Generated by TradeVedia.comSource: UN Comtrade

Total international trade in 2024 amounted to $1.31T, placing Rep. of Korea 9th globally.
Exports totaled $683.1B, with the country ranking 6th worldwide in total exports.
Imports were valued at $631.7B, ranking 9th globally.
The nation recorded a positive trade balance of $51.4B for the year.
China was the top trading partner for both exports ($132.9B) and imports ($139.9B).
The leading export category was Electrical machinery (HS2 85) at $212.9B, while Mineral fuels (HS2 27) were the top import at $162.1B.

Rep. of Korea's 2024 Trade Snapshot

In 2024, Rep. of Korea's economy demonstrated significant global trade activity with total trade valued at $1.31T. The country's exports reached $683.1B against imports of $631.7B, leading to a trade surplus of $51.4B. Globally, Rep. of Korea ranked 6th for exports and 9th for imports. The primary export destinations were China, with a 19.5% share, and the United States, with an 18.8% share.

Top Exports

Rep. of Korea's export market is dominated by high-tech and industrial goods. The largest export category was Electrical machinery and equipment (HS2 85), which accounted for $212.9B or 31.2% of total exports. Following this, Vehicles (HS2 87) were a significant contributor, with exports valued at $91.9B. Viet Nam is another key export destination, receiving $58.3B in goods.

Top Imports

On the import side, energy resources were the most significant category. Mineral fuels and oils (HS2 27) represented the largest portion of imports, totaling $162.1B, which is 25.7% of all imports. Electrical machinery and equipment (HS2 85) was the second-largest import category at $123.8B, demonstrating its importance in both export and import value chains.

Exports

Rep. of Korea - exports over time (Exports), 2015-2024 (USD)

Annual reported export values across available years.

Flow: Exports | Years: 2015-2024 | Unit: USD | Source: UN Comtrade

Generated by TradeVedia.comSource: UN Comtrade

Top export categories

Largest HS2 categories by export value in the selected year.

#1 • HS 85

Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers; television image and sound recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories of such articles

$212.91B

31.2% share

#2 • HS 87

Vehicles; other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories thereof

$91.87B

13.4% share

#3 • HS 84

Machinery and mechanical appliances, boilers, nuclear reactors; parts thereof

$80.45B

11.8% share

#4 • HS 27

Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes

$52.62B

7.7% share

#5 • HS 39

Plastics and articles thereof

$36.23B

5.3% share

#6 • HS 72

Iron and steel

$24.80B

3.6% share

#7 • HS 89

Ships, boats and floating structures

$24.03B

3.5% share

#8 • HS 29

Organic chemicals

$21.86B

3.2% share

#9 • HS 90

Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories

$16.95B

2.5% share

#10 • HS 73

Iron or steel articles

$9.91B

1.5% share

#11 • HS 33

Essential oils and resinoids; perfumery, cosmetic or toilet preparations

$9.87B

1.4% share

#12 • HS 28

Inorganic chemicals; organic and inorganic compounds of precious metals; of rare earth metals, of radio-active elements and of isotopes

$9.55B

1.4% share

#13 • HS 30

Pharmaceutical products

$7.95B

1.2% share

#14 • HS 40

Rubber and articles thereof

$7.80B

1.1% share

#15 • HS 38

Chemical products n.e.c.

$7.01B

1.0% share

Rank	Category	Value	Share
1	Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers; television image and sound recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories of such articles	$212.91B	31.2%
2	Vehicles; other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories thereof	$91.87B	13.4%
3	Machinery and mechanical appliances, boilers, nuclear reactors; parts thereof	$80.45B	11.8%
4	Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes	$52.62B	7.7%
5	Plastics and articles thereof	$36.23B	5.3%
6	Iron and steel	$24.80B	3.6%
7	Ships, boats and floating structures	$24.03B	3.5%
8	Organic chemicals	$21.86B	3.2%
9	Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories	$16.95B	2.5%
10	Iron or steel articles	$9.91B	1.5%
11	Essential oils and resinoids; perfumery, cosmetic or toilet preparations	$9.87B	1.4%
12	Inorganic chemicals; organic and inorganic compounds of precious metals; of rare earth metals, of radio-active elements and of isotopes	$9.55B	1.4%
13	Pharmaceutical products	$7.95B	1.2%
14	Rubber and articles thereof	$7.80B	1.1%
15	Chemical products n.e.c.	$7.01B	1.0%

Labels hide HS codes by default — hover a category to reveal the code.

Rep. of Korea - export composition by product categories (Exports), 2024 (USD)

Largest product categories by export value in the selected year.

Flow: Exports | Year: 2024 | Unit: USD | Source: UN Comtrade

Generated by TradeVedia.comSource: UN Comtrade

Rep. of Korea - export composition by 4-digit product groups (Exports), 2024 (USD)

Area reflects share within the displayed list; hover for product codes.

Flow: Exports | Year: 2024 | Unit: USD | Source: UN Comtrade

Generated by TradeVedia.comSource: UN Comtrade

Imports

Rep. of Korea - imports over time (Imports), 2015-2024 (USD)

Annual reported import values across available years.

Flow: Imports | Years: 2015-2024 | Unit: USD | Source: UN Comtrade

Generated by TradeVedia.comSource: UN Comtrade

Top import categories

Largest HS2 categories by import value in the selected year.

#1 • HS 27

Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes

$162.10B

25.7% share

#2 • HS 85

Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers; television image and sound recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories of such articles

$123.83B

19.6% share

#3 • HS 84

Machinery and mechanical appliances, boilers, nuclear reactors; parts thereof

$66.01B

10.4% share

#4 • HS 90

Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories

$22.79B

3.6% share

#5 • HS 87

Vehicles; other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories thereof

$19.83B

3.1% share

#6 • HS 26

Ores, slag and ash

$19.20B

3.0% share

#7 • HS 72

Iron and steel

$14.24B

2.3% share

#8 • HS 29

Organic chemicals

$14.12B

2.2% share

#9 • HS 39

Plastics and articles thereof

$13.11B

2.1% share

#10 • HS 28

Inorganic chemicals; organic and inorganic compounds of precious metals; of rare earth metals, of radio-active elements and of isotopes

$12.20B

1.9% share

#11 • HS 30

Pharmaceutical products

$9.47B

1.5% share

#12 • HS 38

Chemical products n.e.c.

$8.86B

1.4% share

#13 • HS 76

Aluminium and articles thereof

$8.74B

1.4% share

#14 • HS 73

Iron or steel articles

$8.16B

1.3% share

#15 • HS 74

Copper and articles thereof

$7.32B

1.2% share

Rank	Category	Value	Share
1	Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes	$162.10B	25.7%
2	Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers; television image and sound recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories of such articles	$123.83B	19.6%
3	Machinery and mechanical appliances, boilers, nuclear reactors; parts thereof	$66.01B	10.4%
4	Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories	$22.79B	3.6%
5	Vehicles; other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories thereof	$19.83B	3.1%
6	Ores, slag and ash	$19.20B	3.0%
7	Iron and steel	$14.24B	2.3%
8	Organic chemicals	$14.12B	2.2%
9	Plastics and articles thereof	$13.11B	2.1%
10	Inorganic chemicals; organic and inorganic compounds of precious metals; of rare earth metals, of radio-active elements and of isotopes	$12.20B	1.9%
11	Pharmaceutical products	$9.47B	1.5%
12	Chemical products n.e.c.	$8.86B	1.4%
13	Aluminium and articles thereof	$8.74B	1.4%
14	Iron or steel articles	$8.16B	1.3%
15	Copper and articles thereof	$7.32B	1.2%

Labels hide HS codes by default — hover a category to reveal the code.

Rep. of Korea - import composition by product categories (Imports), 2024 (USD)

Largest product categories by import value in the selected year.

Flow: Imports | Year: 2024 | Unit: USD | Source: UN Comtrade

Generated by TradeVedia.comSource: UN Comtrade

Rep. of Korea - import composition by 4-digit product groups (Imports), 2024 (USD)

Area reflects share within the displayed list; hover for product codes.

Flow: Imports | Year: 2024 | Unit: USD | Source: UN Comtrade

Generated by TradeVedia.comSource: UN Comtrade