South Korea exports to Iran
이란 · latest month: October 2026
In October 2026, South Korea exported $5.0 million of goods to Iran, up 20.0% from September 2026 and down 62.5% from October 2025.
Over the 12 months to October 2026, exports of goods to Iran totalled $78.7 million, down 46.2% from the 12 months before ($146.2 million).
Iran ranked 118th of 239 destinations for Korean goods over the 12 months to October 2026, down from 101st in the 12 months before.
The largest chapter was optical, measuring and medical instruments (HS 90), with $18.8 million or 23.9% of exports to Iran.
Imports from Iran in October 2026 were $78,451 (up 33.3% from October 2025), leaving a surplus of $4.9 million for the month.
Last 24 months
What South Korea exports to Iran: chapters
Export value by HS chapter over the 12 months to October 2026; the largest 25 of 55.
| Code | Product | Exports, 12 months | Share | vs 12 months before | October 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 90 | Optical, measuring and medical instruments | $18.8M | 23.9% | +1.2% | $1.7M |
| 84 | Machinery, boilers and computers | $12.3M | 15.6% | -71.7% | $316K |
| 85 | Electrical machinery and electronics | $11.6M | 14.7% | -40.6% | $1.1M |
| 87 | Vehicles, parts and accessories | $7.1M | 9.0% | -65.6% | $25K |
| 38 | Miscellaneous chemical products | $4.4M | 5.6% | -34.4% | $66K |
| 73 | Articles of iron or steel | $3.8M | 4.9% | -30.0% | $46K |
| 56 | Wadding, felt, nonwovens and cordage | $3.2M | 4.0% | -25.3% | $0 |
| 72 | Iron and steel | $3.1M | 3.9% | +6.5% | $159K |
| 30 | Pharmaceutical products | $2.8M | 3.5% | -54.2% | $100K |
| 39 | Plastics and articles thereof | $2.2M | 2.8% | -36.9% | $125K |
| 33 | Essential oils, perfumery and cosmetics | $2.0M | 2.5% | +195.7% | $1.0M |
| 32 | Dyes, pigments, paints and inks | $1.6M | 2.0% | +28.1% | $0 |
| 68 | Articles of stone, plaster, cement or mica | $920K | 1.2% | -0.9% | $74K |
| 96 | Miscellaneous manufactured articles | $802K | 1.0% | -36.6% | $133K |
| 28 | Inorganic chemicals | $729K | 0.9% | +85.1% | $0 |
| 27 | Mineral fuels, oils and their products | $593K | 0.8% | -30.2% | $0 |
| 76 | Aluminium and articles thereof | $498K | 0.6% | -68.9% | $0 |
| 54 | Man-made filaments | $442K | 0.6% | -40.4% | $10K |
| 34 | Soap, washing preparations and waxes | $325K | 0.4% | +551.7% | $0 |
| 35 | Glues, modified starches and enzymes | $308K | 0.4% | +127.5% | $0 |
| 59 | Coated or laminated textile fabrics | $209K | 0.3% | -62.0% | $49K |
| 82 | Tools and cutlery of base metal | $202K | 0.3% | -54.1% | $0 |
| 40 | Rubber and articles thereof | $168K | 0.2% | -59.0% | $1,307 |
| 48 | Paper and paperboard | $121K | 0.2% | -91.0% | $0 |
| 63 | Other made-up textile articles | $82K | 0.1% | +302.2% | $0 |
Largest 4-digit headings
The 30 largest of 195 headings exported to Iran in the same 12 months.
| Code | Product | Exports, 12 months | Share | vs 12 months before | October 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9021 | Orthopaedic appliances, artificial body parts and hearing aids | $10.5M | 13.3% | +24.3% | $1.2M |
| 8501 | Electric motors and generators | $5.7M | 7.2% | -10.1% | $885K |
| 9018 | Medical, surgical and dental instruments | $5.2M | 6.6% | -15.2% | $273K |
| 3822 | Diagnostic and laboratory reagents (including test kits) | $3.9M | 4.9% | -34.3% | $0 |
| 8413 | Pumps for liquids | $3.7M | 4.7% | -56.8% | $0 |
| 8708 | Parts and accessories of motor vehicles | $3.6M | 4.6% | -59.5% | $25K |
| 8481 | Taps, cocks and valves | $3.5M | 4.5% | -1.9% | $108K |
| 8703 | Passenger cars | $3.3M | 4.2% | -71.2% | $0 |
| 5608 | Knotted netting of twine, cordage or rope, etc. | $2.4M | 3.1% | -19.2% | $0 |
| 7307 | Tube and pipe fittings of iron or steel | $2.1M | 2.6% | -29.4% | $27K |
| 3304 | Beauty, make-up and skin care preparations | $1.9M | 2.5% | +209.8% | $1.0M |
| 8507 | Rechargeable batteries (electric accumulators) | $1.6M | 2.1% | -14.6% | $0 |
| 7326 | Other articles of iron or steel | $1.5M | 2.0% | -14.0% | $19K |
| 7210 | Flat-rolled iron or non-alloy steel, coated or plated | $1.5M | 1.9% | +20.0% | $0 |
| 3006 | Pharmaceutical goods (sutures, dental cements, first-aid kits and others) | $1.4M | 1.8% | -29.6% | $100K |
| 9027 | Instruments for physical or chemical analysis | $1.1M | 1.4% | -16.5% | $78K |
| 3204 | Synthetic organic dyes and pigments | $1.1M | 1.3% | +22.9% | $0 |
| 3004 | Medicaments, in measured doses or retail packs | $962K | 1.2% | -54.3% | $0 |
| 6805 | Abrasive paper and cloth (sandpaper) | $890K | 1.1% | -1.4% | $74K |
| 8536 | Electrical switches, connectors and circuit protection (up to 1,000 V) | $873K | 1.1% | -51.6% | $11K |
| 7211 | Narrow flat-rolled iron or non-alloy steel (under 600 mm), not coated | $870K | 1.1% | +37.4% | $0 |
| 8539 | Electric filament or discharge lamps, etc. | $840K | 1.1% | -10.8% | $127K |
| 8537 | Electrical control and distribution boards | $829K | 1.1% | -83.0% | $0 |
| 9612 | Typewriter or similar ribbons, etc. | $797K | 1.0% | -28.9% | $133K |
| 5607 | Twine, cordage, ropes and cables, etc. | $765K | 1.0% | -33.8% | $0 |
| 9022 | X-ray and radiation apparatus | $730K | 0.9% | +23.6% | $0 |
| 2827 | Chlorides, chloride oxides and chloride hydroxides, etc. | $690K | 0.9% | – | $0 |
| 8409 | Parts for internal combustion engines | $679K | 0.9% | -58.2% | $0 |
| 3917 | Plastic tubes, pipes, hoses and fittings | $678K | 0.9% | -10.3% | $33K |
| 3907 | Polyethers, epoxide resins and polyesters, in primary forms | $622K | 0.8% | +59.0% | $0 |
A chapter is linked when exports to Iran reached $1,000,000 over 24 months, a heading when they reached $5,000,000. "Share" is the share of all exports to Iran.
Featured industry: cosmetics exports to Iran, by 6-digit product.
Monthly figures
| Month | Exports | vs year earlier | Export weight | Export $/kg | Imports | Import weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | $5.0M | -62.5% | 441 t | $11.31 | $78K | 33.7 t |
| September 2026 | $4.2M | -63.7% | 345 t | $12.03 | $68K | 5.7 t |
| August 2026 | $5.5M | -44.5% | 405 t | $13.58 | $11K | 117 kg |
| July 2026 | $8.0M | -22.2% | 438 t | $18.19 | $148K | 15.4 t |
| June 2026 | $4.6M | -13.8% | 406 t | $11.40 | $126K | 1.4 t |
| May 2026 | $4.2M | -69.4% | 621 t | $6.80 | $13K | 2.1 t |
| April 2026 | $1.1M | -86.9% | 160 t | $6.79 | $146K | 80.9 t |
| March 2026 | $998K | -96.2% | 215 t | $4.65 | $126K | 54.7 t |
| February 2026 | $8.2M | -31.1% | 1,561 t | $5.25 | $800K | 105 t |
| January 2026 | $7.8M | -11.1% | 1,256 t | $6.24 | $2.1M | 237 t |
| December 2025 | $20.3M | +34.7% | 2,579 t | $7.89 | $86K | 311 t |
| November 2025 | $8.8M | -22.8% | 1,046 t | $8.42 | $206K | 34.7 t |
| October 2025 | $13.3M | -3.6% | 1,283 t | $10.37 | $59K | 17.7 t |
| September 2025 | $11.4M | -16.9% | 1,084 t | $10.55 | $260K | 49.1 t |
| August 2025 | $9.9M | -12.8% | 878 t | $11.28 | $128K | 105 t |
| July 2025 | $10.2M | -30.2% | 1,774 t | $5.77 | $67K | 19.3 t |
| June 2025 | $5.4M | -61.3% | 906 t | $5.92 | $146K | 20.0 t |
| May 2025 | $13.8M | -20.8% | 1,011 t | $13.67 | $234K | 22.6 t |
| April 2025 | $8.3M | -8.7% | 1,151 t | $7.22 | $119K | 129 t |
| March 2025 | $26.6M | +139.6% | 2,284 t | $11.64 | $124K | 49.8 t |
| February 2025 | $11.9M | -4.3% | 1,231 t | $9.65 | $44K | 1.9 t |
| January 2025 | $8.8M | -35.0% | 1,289 t | $6.84 | $217K | 28.2 t |
| December 2024 | $15.1M | -34.0% | 1,711 t | $8.83 | $267K | 456 t |
| November 2024 | $11.4M | -25.8% | 1,513 t | $7.54 | $132K | 65.8 t |
Exports FOB, imports CIF, US dollars. Weight is net weight. "vs year earlier" compares export value with the same month one year before and is left blank when that month was under $10,000. Source: Korea Customs Service, via data.go.kr.