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2022
Flag → Flag
Exports $30.5BRnk 4 / 220
2022
Flag → Flag
Top Product $4.83BRefined Petroleum
2022
Flag → Flag
Exports $50.8BRnk 3 / 211
2022
Flag → Flag
Top Product $5.44BMachinery Having Individual Functions
2022
Flag
Economic Complexity (ECI) ECI 1.78Rnk 4 / 133
2022
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Economic Complexity (ECI) ECI 2.07Rnk 1 / 133
2022
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GDP$1.67TCURRENT US$
Rnk 13 / 186
2012-2022
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GDP GROWTH30.3%CURRENT US$
Rnk 100 / 186
2022
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 GDP$4.23TCURRENT US$
Rnk 3 / 186
2012-2022
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GDP GROWTH-32.5%CURRENT US$
Rnk 182 / 186
2022
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GDP PC $32,255CURRENT US$
Rnk 33 / 186
2012-2022
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GDP PC GROWTH26.7%CURRENT US$
Rnk 70 / 186
2022
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GDP PC$33,815CURRENT US$
Rnk 32 / 186
2012-2022
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GDP PC GROWTH-31.2%CURRENT US$
Rnk 178 / 186

About

South Korea-Japan Trade: In 2022, South Korea exported $30.5B to Japan. The main products that South Korea exported to Japan were Refined Petroleum ($4.83B), Integrated Circuits ($976M), and Hot-Rolled Iron ($889M). Over the past 5 years the exports of South Korea to Japan have increased at an annualized rate of 2.41%, from $27B in 2017 to $30.5B in 2022.

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.

Japan-South Korea Trade: In 2022, Japan exported $50.8B to South Korea. The main products that Japan exported to South Korea were Machinery Having Individual Functions ($5.44B), Integrated Circuits ($4.14B), and Refined Petroleum ($2.3B). Over the past 5 years the exports of Japan to South Korea have decreased at an annualized rate of 0.51%,  from $52.2B in 2017 to $50.8B in 2022.

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.

Comparison: In 2022,  South Korea ranked 4 in the Economic Complexity Index (ECI 1.78), and 5 in total exports ($705B). That same year, Japan ranked 1 in the Economic Complexity Index (ECI 2.07), and 4 in total exports ($728B).

Latest Trends

September, 2024

About

Overview In September 2024, South Korea exported $2.49B and imported $4.09B from Japan, resulting in a negative trade balance of $1.59B. Between September 2023 and September 2024 the exports of South Korea have decreased by $-24.7M (-0.98%) from $2.52B to $2.49B, while imports increased by $285M (7.49%) from $3.8B to $4.09B.

Trade In September 2024, the top exports of South Korea to Japan were Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products... ($431M), Electrical machinery and electronics ($294M), Iron & steel ($270M), Machinery, mechanical appliances, & parts ($254M), and Plastics & articles thereof ($140M). In September 2024 the top imports of South Korea from Japan were Electrical machinery and electronics ($1.11B), Machinery, mechanical appliances, & parts ($622M), Iron & steel ($456M), Optical, photo, & film equipment; medical... ($265M), and Plastics & articles thereof ($178M).

Growth In September 2024, the decrease in South Korea's year-by-year exports to Japan was explained primarily by an decrease in product exports in Organic chemicals ($-48.7M or -36.3%), Machinery, mechanical appliances, & parts ($-39.6M or -13.5%), and Plastics & articles thereof ($-29.6M or -17.5%). In September 2024, the increase in South Korea's year-by-year imports  from Japan was explained primarily by an increase in product imports  in Electrical machinery and electronics ($306M or 38.1%), Chemical products n.e.s. ($19M or 12.7%), and Wood pulp & paper scrap ($3.29M or 35.8%).

Latest Trade

Time Scale
Flow
Value
Depth
EXPORT GROWTH (September 2023 - September 2024)$-24.7M(-0.98%)
IMPORT GROWTH (September 2023 - September 2024)$285M(7.49%)

This section shows exports and imports data at subnational level for South Korea. Click any date in the line plot or any product to explore the exports or imports behavior of South Korea over time.

To check Japan and South Korea trade dynamics, check the bilateral page.

For full datasets download visit Bulk Download page.

Explore Japan and South Korea Data

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Historical Data

Bilateral Trade by Products

Depth
Value

In 2022, South Korea exported $30.5B to Japan. The main products exported from South Korea to Japan were Refined Petroleum ($4.83B), Integrated Circuits ($976M), and Hot-Rolled Iron ($889M). During the last 5 years the exports of South Korea to Japan have increased at an annualized rate of 2.41%, from $27B in 2017 to $30.5B in 2022.

In 2017, Japan exported $50.8B to South Korea. The main products exported from Japan to South Korea were Machinery Having Individual Functions ($5.44B), Integrated Circuits ($4.14B), and Refined Petroleum ($2.3B). During the last 5 years the exports of Japan to South Korea have decreased at an annualized rate of 0.51%, from $52.2B in 2022 to $50.8B in 2017.

Exports from South Korea (Flag) to Japan (Flag) (2022)

Exports from Japan (Flag) to South Korea (Flag) (2022)

Market Competitiveness

Color
South Korea
Top DestinationChina$150B
Japan
Top DestinationUnited States$137B

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

In 2022, countries that imported more from South Korea than Japan included Vietnam ($60.7B), China ($150B), and India ($20.6B).

In 2022, countries that imported more from Japan than South Korea included United States ($137B), Thailand ($30.8B), and Chinese Taipei ($50.1B).

Difference in imports from Japan (Flag) and South Korea (Flag) (2022)

Comparative Advantage South Korea - Japan

Flow
Scale

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

During 2022, South Korea had a large net trade with Japan in the exports of Machines ($7.15B), Mineral Products ($5.38B), and Metals ($5.01B).

During 2017, Japan had a large net trade with South Korea in the exports of Machines ($19B), Metals ($8.75B), and Chemical Products ($7.56B).

Potential Exports

Potential Exports

Depth
View
Sort By
Top Product Potential South Korea Japan+$607MIntegrated Circuits
Top Product Potential Japan South Korea+$531MIntegrated 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 South Korea and Japan. This means that a dot/product with the flag of South Korea indicates it has a comparative advantage over Japan. Similarly, a dot/product with the flag of Japan indicates it has a comparative advantage over South Korea.

Product Space of South Korea (Flag) and Japan (Flag) (2022)

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