Printed books, newspapers and pictures: South Korea exports and imports
HS chapter 49 · 인쇄서적ㆍ신문ㆍ회화ㆍ그 밖의 인쇄물, 수제(手製)문서ㆍ타자문서ㆍ도면 · latest month: October 2026
In October 2026, South Korea exported $33.1 million of printed books, newspapers and pictures (HS 49), down 3.9% from September 2026 and up 0.1% from October 2025.
Over the 12 months to October 2026, exports of printed books, newspapers and pictures (HS 49) totalled $376.8 million, down 11.4% from the 12 months before ($425.3 million).
The largest destination over the 12 months to October 2026 was the United States ($108.0 million, 28.7% of the total), followed by China and Uzbekistan.
That was 0.0% of South Korea's total goods exports over the same 12 months.
Imports in October 2026 were $25.6 million (up 17.8% from October 2025), leaving a surplus of $7.4 million for the month.
Official description of HS 49: Printed books, newspapers, picturesand other products of the printing industry; manuscripts, typescripts and plans.
Last 24 months
Headings under chapter 49
| Code | Product | Exports, 12 months | Share | vs 12 months before | October 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4901 | Printed books, brochures, leaflets and similar printed matter, etc. | $235.5M | 62.5% | -10.7% | $18.1M |
| 4911 | Other printed matter, including printed pictures and photographs | $96.9M | 25.7% | -13.0% | $10.3M |
| 4910 | Calendars of any kind, printed, including calendar blocks | $16.2M | 4.3% | -9.6% | $2.1M |
| 4908 | Transfers (decalcomanias) | $11.0M | 2.9% | -1.6% | $858K |
| 4909 | Printed or illustrated postcards, etc. | $10.9M | 2.9% | -26.6% | $1.3M |
| 4902 | Newspapers, journals and periodicals, etc. | $3.3M | 0.9% | +22.0% | $192K |
| 4903 | Children's picture, drawing or colouring books | $1.2M | 0.3% | -45.1% | $98K |
| 4906 | Plans and drawings for architectural, engineering, industrial, commercial, etc. | $780K | 0.2% | +309.5% | $140K |
| 4904 | Music, printed or in manuscript, whether or not bound or illustrated | $672K | 0.2% | +84.7% | $3,212 |
| 4905 | Maps and hydrographic or similar charts of all kinds including atlases, etc. | $233K | 0.1% | -26.2% | $46K |
| 4907 | Unused postage, etc. | $122K | 0.0% | -69.4% | $137 |
Top destinations
Export value over the 12 months to October 2026. 211 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 | $108.0M | 28.7% | -6.6% | 1 | $11.2M |
| 2 | China | $72.5M | 19.2% | -33.6% | 2 | $5.8M |
| 3 | Uzbekistan | $59.2M | 15.7% | +18.0% | 3 | $3.3M |
| 4 | Japan | $38.1M | 10.1% | -10.7% | 4 | $4.8M |
| 5 | Taiwan | $9.2M | 2.4% | +31.2% | 6 | $744K |
| 6 | Malaysia | $8.2M | 2.2% | +463.4% | 22 | $106K |
| 7 | Hong Kong | $7.6M | 2.0% | +74.2% | 13 | $594K |
| 8 | Canada | $6.5M | 1.7% | +24.3% | 8 | $782K |
| 9 | Vietnam | $5.7M | 1.5% | +16.3% | 11 | $382K |
| 10 | Australia | $5.2M | 1.4% | +3.8% | 10 | $506K |
| 11 | Germany | $4.9M | 1.3% | -3.4% | 9 | $439K |
| 12 | India | $3.5M | 0.9% | -5.9% | 16 | $218K |
| 13 | United Kingdom | $3.3M | 0.9% | +10.6% | 18 | $238K |
| 14 | Mexico | $3.2M | 0.9% | -33.0% | 12 | $155K |
| 15 | Thailand | $2.7M | 0.7% | -37.0% | 14 | $238K |
| 16 | Poland | $2.2M | 0.6% | -80.6% | 5 | $31K |
| 17 | France | $2.1M | 0.6% | +24.4% | 20 | $222K |
| 18 | Philippines | $2.1M | 0.5% | +28.5% | 21 | $231K |
| 19 | Netherlands | $1.8M | 0.5% | +86.0% | 28 | $166K |
| 20 | Singapore | $1.6M | 0.4% | +30.7% | 23 | $143K |
Countries are linked when exports of this product to them reached $1,000,000 over 24 months.
Monthly figures
| Month | Exports | vs year earlier | Export weight | Export $/kg | Imports | Import weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | $33.1M | +0.1% | 3,790 t | $8.73 | $25.6M | 1,410 t |
| September 2026 | $34.4M | +1.5% | 4,657 t | $7.39 | $26.8M | 1,388 t |
| August 2026 | $28.2M | +42.8% | 4,120 t | $6.85 | $23.2M | 1,318 t |
| July 2026 | $56.1M | +31.0% | 8,430 t | $6.66 | $27.2M | 1,308 t |
| June 2026 | $37.7M | -9.3% | 5,512 t | $6.85 | $23.9M | 1,215 t |
| May 2026 | $30.1M | -25.5% | 4,117 t | $7.32 | $49.6M | 1,327 t |
| April 2026 | $33.6M | -14.4% | 4,705 t | $7.14 | $21.2M | 1,460 t |
| March 2026 | $23.1M | -30.4% | 3,033 t | $7.61 | $21.9M | 1,080 t |
| February 2026 | $19.7M | -36.0% | 2,130 t | $9.23 | $22.8M | 1,085 t |
| January 2026 | $28.5M | +26.0% | 2,734 t | $10.41 | $20.9M | 1,287 t |
| December 2025 | $27.1M | -37.8% | 2,608 t | $10.40 | $32.6M | 1,417 t |
| November 2025 | $25.2M | -43.2% | 2,377 t | $10.61 | $20.7M | 1,171 t |
| October 2025 | $33.1M | -10.3% | 3,076 t | $10.75 | $21.8M | 1,184 t |
| September 2025 | $33.9M | -5.4% | 3,125 t | $10.84 | $27.8M | 1,133 t |
| August 2025 | $19.8M | -14.5% | 2,813 t | $7.02 | $25.0M | 1,173 t |
| July 2025 | $42.8M | +11.8% | 4,954 t | $8.64 | $23.7M | 1,302 t |
| June 2025 | $41.6M | -13.0% | 5,628 t | $7.39 | $21.0M | 1,318 t |
| May 2025 | $40.4M | +41.6% | 5,064 t | $7.99 | $23.4M | 1,361 t |
| April 2025 | $39.3M | +21.9% | 4,802 t | $8.18 | $22.1M | 1,271 t |
| March 2025 | $33.1M | +68.7% | 3,033 t | $10.93 | $22.1M | 1,324 t |
| February 2025 | $30.7M | +23.5% | 4,031 t | $7.63 | $22.4M | 1,070 t |
| January 2025 | $22.6M | -16.2% | 1,704 t | $13.26 | $18.7M | 1,335 t |
| December 2024 | $43.6M | +31.4% | 2,793 t | $15.61 | $29.5M | 1,467 t |
| November 2024 | $44.4M | +0.9% | 4,777 t | $9.30 | $23.9M | 1,190 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.