2023
Flag  
GDP
$4.2TCURRENT US$
Rnk 4 / 195
2013-2023
Flag
GDP GROWTH
-19.3%CURRENT US$
Rnk 190 / 195
2023
Flag
 GDP
$1.71TCURRENT US$
Rnk 14 / 195
2013-2023
Flag
GDP GROWTH
25%CURRENT US$
Rnk 127 / 195
2023
Flag
GDP PC 
$33,767CURRENT US$
Rnk 38 / 195
2013-2023
Flag
GDP PC GROWTH
-17.4%CURRENT US$
Rnk 176 / 195
2023
Flag
GDP PC
$33,121CURRENT US$
Rnk 41 / 196
2013-2023
Flag
GDP PC GROWTH
21.9%CURRENT US$
Rnk 99 / 195

About

Japan-South Korea Trade: In 2023, Japan exported $42.7B to South Korea. The main products that Japan exported to South Korea were Machinery Having Individual Functions ($4.17B), Integrated Circuits ($3.43B), and Refined Petroleum ($2.32B). Over the past 5 years the exports of Japan to South Korea have decreased at an annualized rate of 4.48%, from $53.7B in 2018 to $42.7B in 2023.

In 2009, Japan exported services to South Korea worth $8.05B, with Services not allocated ($3.91B), Transportation ($2.32B), and Travel ($1.64B) being the largest in terms of value.

South Korea-Japan Trade: In 2023, South Korea exported $28.4B to Japan. The main products that South Korea exported to Japan were Refined Petroleum ($5.34B), Integrated Circuits ($1.61B), and Hot-Rolled Iron ($921M). Over the past 5 years the exports of South Korea to Japan have decreased at an annualized rate of 1.38%,  from $30.5B in 2018 to $28.4B in 2023.

In 2005, South Korea exported services to Japan worth $6.48B, with Transportation ($2.43B), Travel ($2.16B), and Other business services ($1.64B) being the largest in terms of value.

Comparison: In 2023,  Japan ranked 1 in the Economic Complexity Index (ECI 2.07), and 4 in total exports ($766B). That same year, South Korea ranked 4 in the Economic Complexity Index (ECI 1.85), and 5 in total exports ($645B).

Historical Data

Bilateral Trade by Products

Depth
Value

In 2023, Japan exported $42.7B to South Korea. The main products exported from Japan to South Korea were Machinery Having Individual Functions ($4.17B), Integrated Circuits ($3.43B), and Refined Petroleum ($2.32B). During the last 5 years the exports of Japan to South Korea have decreased at an annualized rate of 4.48%, from $53.7B in 2018 to $42.7B in 2023.

In 2018, South Korea exported $28.4B to Japan. The main products exported from South Korea to Japan were Refined Petroleum ($5.34B), Integrated Circuits ($1.61B), and Hot-Rolled Iron ($921M). During the last 5 years the exports of South Korea to Japan have decreased at an annualized rate of 1.38%, from $30.5B in 2023 to $28.4B in 2018.

Exports from Japan (Flag) to South Korea (Flag) (2023)

Exports from South Korea (Flag) to Japan (Flag) (2023)

Market Competitiveness

Color
Japan
Top Destination
United States$143B
South Korea
Top Destination
China$162B

This map shows whether countries import more from Japan or South Korea. Each country is colored based on the difference in imports they receive from Japan and South Korea or the difference in the growth in imports.

In 2023, countries that imported more from Japan than South Korea included United States ($143B), Thailand ($29.6B), and Vietnam ($16B).

In 2023, countries that imported more from South Korea than Japan included China ($162B), Hungary ($8.05B), and Slovakia ($6.45B).

Difference in imports from South Korea (Flag) and Japan (Flag) (2023)

Comparative Advantage Japan - South Korea

Flow
Scale

This chart compares trade between Japan and South Korea by product, considering products traded by both, Japan and South Korea.

During 2023, Japan had a large net trade with South Korea in the exports of Machines ($15.2B), Metals ($7.14B), and Chemical Products ($6.71B).

During 2018, South Korea had a large net trade with Japan in the exports of Machines ($7.58B), Mineral Products ($5.81B), and Metals ($4.69B).

Potential Exports

Potential Exports

Depth
View
Sort By
Top Product Potential Japan South Korea+$531MIntegrated Circuits
Top Product Potential South Korea Japan+$607MIntegrated Circuits

We estimate the export potential of an economy for each product and destination using an extension of the bilateral relatedness model of Jun et al. (2019).This extended gravity model considers similarities among products and geographies and explains more than 50% of the variance in future trade flows.

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Economic Complexity

Competitive Landscape

This visualization shows the product space at the HS4 level with the flags of Japan and South Korea. This means that a dot/product with the flag of Japan indicates it has a comparative advantage over South Korea. Similarly, a dot/product with the flag of South Korea indicates it has a comparative advantage over Japan.

Product Space of Japan (Flag) and South Korea (Flag) (2023)

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