Spirits and liqueurs (including soju): South Korea exports and imports
HS 2208 · 변성하지 않은 에틸알코올(알코올의 용량이 전 용량의 100분의 80 미만인 것으로 한정한다), 증류주ㆍ리큐르(liqueur)와 그 밖의 주정음료 · latest month: October 2026
In October 2026, South Korea exported $13.9 million of spirits and liqueurs (including soju) (HS 2208), down 17.3% from September 2026 and down 9.6% from October 2025.
Over the 12 months to October 2026, exports of spirits and liqueurs (including soju) (HS 2208) totalled $189.9 million, down 6.6% from the 12 months before ($203.4 million).
The largest destination over the 12 months to October 2026 was the United States ($49.2 million, 25.9% of the total), followed by China and Japan.
That was 17.0% of South Korea's exports under HS chapter 22 (beverages, spirits and vinegar) over the same 12 months.
Imports in October 2026 were $24.9 million (up 9.2% from October 2025), leaving a deficit of $11.0 million for the month.
Official description of HS 2208: Undenatured ethyl alcohol of an alcoholic strength by volume of less than 80 % vol; spirits, liqueurs and other spirituous beverages.
Last 24 months
Subheadings under HS 2208
| Code | Product | Exports, 12 months | Share | vs 12 months before | October 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2208.20 | Spirits obtained by distilling grape wine or grape marc | $37K | 0.0% | +204.7% | $0 |
| 2208.20.1000 | Cognac | $37K | 99.8% | +204.6% | $0 |
| 2208.20.9000 | Other | $68 | 0.2% | – | $0 |
| 2208.30 | Whiskies | $1.6M | 0.8% | +31.8% | $91K |
| 2208.30.1000 | Scotch whisky | $1.0M | 64.9% | +21.6% | $79K |
| 2208.30.2000 | Bourbon whisky | $0 | 0.0% | – | $0 |
| 2208.30.3000 | Rye whisky | $0 | 0.0% | – | $0 |
| 2208.30.9000 | Other | $557K | 35.1% | +56.6% | $12K |
| 2208.40 | Rum and other spirits obtained by distilling fermented sugarcane products | $0 | 0.0% | -100.0% | $0 |
| 2208.50 | Gin and geneva | $114K | 0.1% | -70.0% | $6,502 |
| 2208.60 | Vodka | $4,438 | 0.0% | – | $0 |
| 2208.70 | Liqueurs and cordials | $97.2M | 51.2% | +2.5% | $7.4M |
| 2208.70.1000 | Ginseng wine | $179K | 0.2% | -10.9% | $0 |
| 2208.70.2000 | Ogarpiⓚ wine | $0 | 0.0% | – | $0 |
| 2208.70.9000 | Other | $97.1M | 99.8% | +2.5% | $7.4M |
| 2208.90 | Other | $90.9M | 47.9% | -15.0% | $6.3M |
| 2208.90.1000 | Brandies other than that of subheading 2208.20 | $943 | 0.0% | – | $0 |
| 2208.90.4000 | Sojuⓚ | $83.1M | 91.4% | -15.3% | $6.0M |
| 2208.90.6000 | Kaoliang wine | $12K | 0.0% | – | $6,684 |
| 2208.90.7000 | Tequila | $14K | 0.0% | – | $0 |
| 2208.90.9000 | Other | $7.8M | 8.6% | -12.3% | $291K |
Six-digit codes are international; the indented ten-digit codes are South Korea's own subdivision. These rows are world totals; "Share" is the share of the row above.
Top destinations
Export value over the 12 months to October 2026. 114 countries received this product from South Korea in the last 24 months; the table shows the largest 20.
| Rank | Country | Exports, 12 months | Share | vs 12 months before | Rank before | October 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States | $49.2M | 25.9% | -12.6% | 1 | $4.1M |
| 2 | China | $35.2M | 18.5% | +6.8% | 3 | $2.0M |
| 3 | Japan | $33.8M | 17.8% | -11.2% | 2 | $2.2M |
| 4 | Vietnam | $8.9M | 4.7% | +2.7% | 5 | $809K |
| 5 | Philippines | $7.5M | 3.9% | -1.0% | 6 | $1.2M |
| 6 | Taiwan | $5.5M | 2.9% | -39.6% | 4 | $180K |
| 7 | Malaysia | $4.8M | 2.5% | +17.0% | 9 | $278K |
| 8 | Hong Kong | $3.8M | 2.0% | -13.0% | 7 | $191K |
| 9 | Cambodia | $3.7M | 2.0% | +10.2% | 12 | $14K |
| 10 | Canada | $3.6M | 1.9% | -14.6% | 8 | $436K |
| 11 | Australia | $3.2M | 1.7% | -18.6% | 10 | $377K |
| 12 | Kenya | $2.8M | 1.5% | +1,434% | 41 | $204K |
| 13 | Singapore | $2.5M | 1.3% | +18.4% | 14 | $126K |
| 14 | Indonesia | $2.3M | 1.2% | +58.3% | 18 | $64K |
| 15 | Mongolia | $2.0M | 1.1% | -25.6% | 13 | $260K |
| 16 | Germany | $1.9M | 1.0% | +18.9% | 17 | $96K |
| 17 | Thailand | $1.6M | 0.8% | -60.5% | 11 | $60K |
| 18 | United Kingdom | $1.5M | 0.8% | -7.3% | 15 | $201K |
| 19 | Netherlands | $1.4M | 0.7% | +25.4% | 22 | $52K |
| 20 | Mexico | $1.2M | 0.6% | -25.5% | 16 | $19K |
Countries are linked when exports of this product to them reached $5,000,000 over 24 months.
Monthly figures
| Month | Exports | vs year earlier | Export weight | Export $/kg | Imports | Import weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | $13.9M | -9.6% | 8,708 t | $1.59 | $24.9M | 3,518 t |
| September 2026 | $16.8M | -20.9% | 10,470 t | $1.60 | $22.9M | 3,732 t |
| August 2026 | $14.2M | -18.2% | 8,423 t | $1.69 | $24.6M | 3,845 t |
| July 2026 | $14.7M | -19.4% | 8,672 t | $1.69 | $27.8M | 4,262 t |
| June 2026 | $19.0M | +13.0% | 12,133 t | $1.57 | $25.1M | 4,341 t |
| May 2026 | $14.4M | -11.7% | 8,763 t | $1.64 | $22.4M | 3,819 t |
| April 2026 | $15.5M | -3.2% | 9,289 t | $1.67 | $22.1M | 3,557 t |
| March 2026 | $16.3M | -7.0% | 10,063 t | $1.62 | $24.5M | 3,327 t |
| February 2026 | $11.4M | -18.6% | 7,457 t | $1.53 | $20.3M | 2,857 t |
| January 2026 | $9.8M | -15.5% | 6,041 t | $1.62 | $26.5M | 3,986 t |
| December 2025 | $21.9M | +44.7% | 13,369 t | $1.63 | $33.2M | 4,331 t |
| November 2025 | $22.1M | -7.6% | 12,746 t | $1.73 | $22.1M | 3,154 t |
| October 2025 | $15.3M | -23.5% | 8,313 t | $1.84 | $22.8M | 3,955 t |
| September 2025 | $21.2M | -0.5% | 11,894 t | $1.78 | $26.9M | 4,007 t |
| August 2025 | $17.4M | +32.0% | 9,872 t | $1.76 | $23.7M | 3,326 t |
| July 2025 | $18.2M | -14.7% | 10,588 t | $1.72 | $37.1M | 5,521 t |
| June 2025 | $16.8M | -13.9% | 10,468 t | $1.61 | $26.0M | 4,448 t |
| May 2025 | $16.3M | -0.5% | 9,498 t | $1.72 | $24.1M | 4,345 t |
| April 2025 | $16.0M | -11.1% | 9,636 t | $1.66 | $22.3M | 3,916 t |
| March 2025 | $17.5M | +17.9% | 10,620 t | $1.65 | $20.5M | 3,996 t |
| February 2025 | $14.1M | +24.3% | 8,093 t | $1.74 | $21.6M | 4,154 t |
| January 2025 | $11.6M | -14.5% | 7,306 t | $1.59 | $24.5M | 4,488 t |
| December 2024 | $15.1M | -0.5% | 9,970 t | $1.51 | $31.7M | 5,059 t |
| November 2024 | $23.9M | +3.1% | 13,316 t | $1.80 | $29.6M | 5,049 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.