South Korea2019 Economic Complexity : 1.9, Rank 5 of 146
2019 Product Exports | Imports: $555B | $485B, 6 of 225 | 9 of 225
2019 Per Capita Product Exports | Imports: $10.7k | $9.38k, 52 of 219 | 59 of 219
2018 Service Exports | Imports : $96.3B | $118B, 18 of 125 | 16 of 125
Overview In 2019 South Korea was the number 12 economy in the world in terms of GDP (current US$), the number 6 in total exports, the number 9 in total imports, the number 32 economy in terms of GDP per capita (current US$) and the number 5 most complex economy according to the Economic Complexity Index (ECI).
Exports The top exports of South Korea are Integrated Circuits ($85.2B), Cars ($40.8B), Refined Petroleum ($38.9B), Vehicle Parts ($18.5B), and Passenger and Cargo Ships ($17.1B), exporting mostly to China ($136B), United States ($74.8B), Vietnam ($47.8B), Hong Kong ($31.6B), and Japan ($28.3B).
In 2019, South Korea was the world's biggest exporter of Passenger and Cargo Ships ($17.1B), Cyclic Hydrocarbons ($9.07B), Styrene Polymers ($3.5B), Synthetic Rubber ($2.76B), and Polycarboxylic Acids ($2.58B)
Imports The top imports of South Korea are Crude Petroleum ($67.4B), Integrated Circuits ($34.3B), Petroleum Gas ($21.8B), Refined Petroleum ($18.4B), and Coal Briquettes ($11.8B), importing mostly from China ($108B), United States ($57.6B), Japan ($44.9B), Vietnam ($20.3B), and Saudi Arabia ($19.5B).
In 2019, South Korea was the world's biggest importer of Carbonates ($651M), Inorganic Compounds ($650M), Starch Residue ($444M), Cobalt Oxides and Hydroxides ($236M), and Other Carbon Paper ($86.5M)
Location South Korea borders North Korea by land and China and Japan by sea.
June, 2021
Overview In June 2021 South Korea exported $54.8B and imported $50.3B, resulting in a positive trade balance of $4.47B. Between June 2020 and June 2021 the exports of South Korea have increased by $15.6B (39.8%) from $39.2B to $54.8B, while imports increased by $14.6B (40.7%) from $35.8B to $50.3B.
Trade In June 2021, the top exports of South Korea were Electrical machinery and equipment and parts... ($16.9B), Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical... ($6.73B), Vehicles; other than railway or tramway... ($5.8B), Plastics and articles thereof ($3.73B), and Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products... ($3.17B). In June 2021 the top imports of South Korea were Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products... ($10.2B), Electrical machinery and equipment and parts... ($8.83B), Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical... ($5.86B), Ores, slag and ash ($2.18B), and Vehicles; other than railway or tramway... ($1.92B).
Destinations In June 2021, South Korea exported mostly to China ($13.1B), United States ($8.71B), Vietnam ($4.58B), Hong Kong ($3.48B), and Japan ($2.59B), and imported mostly from China ($11.4B), United States ($6.49B), Japan ($4.59B), Australia ($2.27B), and Saudi Arabia ($1.91B).
Growth In June 2021, the increase in South Korea's year-by-year exports was explained primarily by an increase in exports to United States ($2.97B or 51.9%), China ($1.62B or 14.1%), and Hong Kong ($1.14B or 48.8%), and product exports increase in Electrical machinery and equipment and parts... ($4.35B or 34.5%), Vehicles; other than railway or tramway... ($2.43B or 72.3%), and Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products... ($1.41B or 80.3%). In June 2021, the increase in South Korea's year-by-year imports was explained primarily by an increase in imports from China ($2.49B or 28%), United States ($1.89B or 41.2%), and Japan ($1.03B or 28.9%), and product imports increase in Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products... ($5.19B or 103%), Electrical machinery and equipment and parts... ($1.47B or 20%), and Ores, slag and ash ($1.09B or 100%).
EXPORT GROWTH (June 2020 - June 2021): $15.6B, (39.8%)
IMPORT GROWTH (June 2020 - June 2021): $14.6B, (40.7%)
MAIN DESTINATION (June 2021): China, $13.1B
This section shows exports and imports data at subnational level for South Korea. Click any date in the line plot, or any product, destination or origin country to explore the exports or imports behavior of South Korea over time.
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Top Export (2019): Integrated Circuits, $85.2B
Top Destination (2019): China, $136B
In 2019, South Korea exported a total of $555B, making it the number 6 exporter in the world. During the last five reported years the exports of South Korea have changed by -$27.2B from $582B in 2014 to $555B in 2019.
The most recent exports are led by Integrated Circuits ($85.2B), Cars ($40.8B), Refined Petroleum ($38.9B), Vehicle Parts ($18.5B), and Passenger and Cargo Ships ($17.1B). The most common destination for the exports of South Korea are China ($136B), United States ($74.8B), Vietnam ($47.8B), Hong Kong ($31.6B), and Japan ($28.3B).
Top Import (2019): Crude Petroleum, $67.4B
Top Origin (2019): China, $108B
In 2019 South Korea imported $485B, making it the number 9 trade destination in the world. During the last five reported years the imports of South Korea changed by -$20.6B from $506B in 2014 to $485B in 2019.
The most recent imports of South Korea are led by Crude Petroleum ($67.4B), Integrated Circuits ($34.3B), Petroleum Gas ($21.8B), Refined Petroleum ($18.4B), and Coal Briquettes ($11.8B). The most common import partners for South Korea are China ($108B), United States ($57.6B), Japan ($44.9B), Vietnam ($20.3B), and Saudi Arabia ($19.5B).
Fastest Growing Export Markets (2018 - 2019)
Fastest Growing Import Markets (2018 - 2019)
South Korea Exports Services (2018): $96.3B
South Korea Imports Services (2018): $118B
In 2018, South Korea exported $96.3B worth of services. The top services exported by South Korea in 2018 were Transportation ($27.7B), Other business services ($21.7B), Travel ($15.3B), Construction services ($12.7B), and Royalties and license fees ($7.75B).
The top services imported by South Korea in 2018 were Other business services ($32.9B), Transportation ($32.1B), Travel ($32B), Royalties and license fees ($9.88B), and Construction services ($3.27B).
The top product import tariffs by their MFN Ad Valorem value for South Korea are Cereals unmilled nes (800%) and Cereals: fonio (Digitaria spp.) (800%).
Click any of the products in the bar chart to see the specific Ad Valorem Duty Rates by partner country.
*The tariffs applied to imports for South Korea are:
South Korea has a high level of specialization in Oxometallic or Peroxometallic Acid Salts (10.2), Halides (8.47), Passenger and Cargo Ships (7.96), Cast or Rolled Glass (7.47), and Cyclic Hydrocarbons (6.48). Specialization is measured using RCA, an index that takes the ratio between South Korea observed and expected exports in each product.
The highest complexity exports of South Korea according to the product complexity index (PCI) are Photo plate, film, exposed or developed, except cine (2.76), Machining centre, single/multistation transfer machine (2.42), Equipment for photographic laboratories nes (2.25), Chemical element/compound wafers doped for electronics (2.18), and Chemical preparations for photographic use (2.12). PCI measures the knowledge intensity of a product by considering the knowledge intensity of its exporters.
The top export opportunities for South Korea according to the relatedness index, are Photographic Film (0.3), Incomplete Movement Sets (0.29), Blown Glass (0.29), Other Electrical Machinery (0.28), and Watch Movements (0.28). Relatedness measures the distance between a country's current exports and each product. The barchart show only products that South Korea is not specialized in.
The product space is a network connecting products that are likely to be co-exported. The product space can be used to predict future exports, since countries are more likely to start exporting products that are related to current exports. Relatedness measures the distance between a product, and all of the products it is currently specialized in.
The Complexity-Relatedness diagram compares the risk and the strategic value of a country's potential export oppotunities. Relatedness is a predictive of the probability that a country increases its exports in a product. Complexity, is associated with higher levels of income, economic growth, less income inequality, and lower emissions.
During the last 20 years South Korea's economy has become relatively más complex, moving from the 28th to the 5th position in the ECI rank.
These economic complexity rankings use 6 digit exports classified according to the HS96 classification. We consider only countries with population of at least 1 million and exports of at least $1 billion, and products with world trade over $500 million. To explore different rankings and vary these parameters visit the custom rankings section.