Precious metal waste and scrap: South Korea exports and imports
HS 7112 · 귀금속이나 귀금속을 입힌 금속의 웨이스트(waste)와 스크랩(scrap), 귀금속이나 귀금속 화합물을 포함하고 있는 그 밖의 웨이스트(waste)와 스크랩(scrap)(주로 귀금속의 회수에 사용되는 것으로 한정하며 제8549호의 물품은 제외한다) · latest month: October 2026
In October 2026, South Korea exported $100.5 million of precious metal waste and scrap (HS 7112), up 148.2% from September 2026 and up 276.0% from October 2025.
Over the 12 months to October 2026, exports of precious metal waste and scrap (HS 7112) totalled $794.4 million, up 140.7% from the 12 months before ($330.0 million).
The largest destination over the 12 months to October 2026 was Germany ($258.8 million, 32.6% of the total), followed by Japan and the United States.
That was 5.5% of South Korea's exports under HS chapter 71 (pearls, precious stones and precious metals) over the same 12 months.
Imports in October 2026 were $117.1 million (down 31.9% from October 2025), leaving a deficit of $16.6 million for the month.
Official description of HS 7112: Waste and scrap of precious metal or of metals clad with precious metal; other waste and scrap containing precious metal or precious metal compounds, of a kind used principally for the recovery of precious metal other than goods of heading 85.49.
Last 24 months
Subheadings under HS 7112
| Code | Product | Exports, 12 months | Share | vs 12 months before | October 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7112.30 | Ash containing precious metal or precious metal compounds | $4.6M | 0.6% | +6.9% | $498K |
| 7112.91 | Of gold, including metal clad with gold but excluding sweepings containing other precious metals | $12.8M | 1.6% | -61.8% | $258K |
| 7112.91.1000 | Of residues | $0 | 0.0% | – | $0 |
| 7112.91.9000 | Other | $12.8M | 100.0% | -61.8% | $258K |
| 7112.92 | Of platinum, including metal clad with platinum but excluding sweepings containing other precious metals | $698.3M | 87.9% | +163.5% | $89.0M |
| 7112.92.1000 | Of residues | $61.1M | 8.8% | +1,856% | $1.5M |
| 7112.92.9000 | Other | $637.2M | 91.2% | +143.3% | $87.5M |
| 7112.99 | Other | $78.7M | 9.9% | +190.0% | $10.8M |
| 7112.99.1000 | Of residues | $59.6M | 75.7% | +309.9% | $5.4M |
| 7112.99.2000 | Of waste, paring and scrap of plastics | $0 | 0.0% | -100.0% | $0 |
| 7112.99.9000 | Other | $19.1M | 24.3% | +58.1% | $5.4M |
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. 15 countries received this product from South Korea in the last 24 months.
| Rank | Country | Exports, 12 months | Share | vs 12 months before | Rank before | October 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Germany | $258.8M | 32.6% | +132.4% | 1 | $4.1M |
| 2 | Japan | $219.9M | 27.7% | +135.2% | 2 | $78.7M |
| 3 | United States | $151.7M | 19.1% | +250.0% | 4 | $6.0M |
| 4 | Singapore | $107.0M | 13.5% | +80.7% | 3 | $10.1M |
| 5 | Belgium | $24.3M | 3.1% | – | – | $0 |
| 6 | United Kingdom | $15.0M | 1.9% | +96.4% | 6 | $427K |
| 7 | United Arab Emirates | $8.7M | 1.1% | +283.8% | 8 | $1.1M |
| 8 | Italy | $8.0M | 1.0% | -1.9% | 5 | $0 |
| 9 | Canada | $885K | 0.1% | -58.3% | 9 | $0 |
| 10 | Hong Kong | $90K | 0.0% | – | – | $0 |
| 11 | Malaysia | $67K | 0.0% | – | – | $0 |
| 12 | Austria | $15K | 0.0% | – | 11 | $15K |
| – | Qatar | $0 | 0.0% | – | 12 | $0 |
| – | Taiwan | $0 | 0.0% | -100.0% | 7 | $0 |
| – | Vietnam | $0 | 0.0% | – | 10 | $0 |
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 | $100.5M | +276.0% | 905 t | $110.98 | $117.1M | 795 t |
| September 2026 | $40.5M | +47.8% | 540 t | $74.95 | $103.2M | 1,989 t |
| August 2026 | $66.3M | +122.3% | 538 t | $123.18 | $89.1M | 1,262 t |
| July 2026 | $31.2M | -50.1% | 189 t | $164.78 | $244.2M | 1,403 t |
| June 2026 | $23.9M | -59.8% | 235 t | $101.44 | $103.1M | 923 t |
| May 2026 | $77.6M | +549.8% | 81.2 t | $955.77 | $261.8M | 1,492 t |
| April 2026 | $101.5M | +364.0% | 417 t | $243.27 | $109.6M | 955 t |
| March 2026 | $124.6M | +669.1% | 374 t | $333.33 | $301.4M | 1,286 t |
| February 2026 | $64.7M | +397.5% | 356 t | $181.52 | $130.0M | 1,051 t |
| January 2026 | $42.5M | +205.3% | 320 t | $132.96 | $293.1M | 1,196 t |
| December 2025 | $82.2M | +142.6% | 391 t | $210.09 | $217.2M | 1,440 t |
| November 2025 | $39.0M | +190.4% | 458 t | $85.03 | $176.4M | 1,100 t |
| October 2025 | $26.7M | +69.8% | 611 t | $43.76 | $171.9M | 1,168 t |
| September 2025 | $27.4M | +51.3% | 268 t | $102.14 | $141.0M | 934 t |
| August 2025 | $29.8M | -26.1% | 412 t | $72.41 | $134.3M | 1,078 t |
| July 2025 | $62.4M | +267.6% | 429 t | $145.46 | $108.9M | 1,080 t |
| June 2025 | $59.4M | +345.6% | 335 t | $177.38 | $128.5M | 926 t |
| May 2025 | $11.9M | -6.9% | 273 t | $43.77 | $164.1M | 866 t |
| April 2025 | $21.9M | +23.8% | 552 t | $39.63 | $43.8M | 683 t |
| March 2025 | $16.2M | -4.7% | 548 t | $29.54 | $95.5M | 568 t |
| February 2025 | $13.0M | -42.8% | 375 t | $34.70 | $132.9M | 865 t |
| January 2025 | $13.9M | +32.0% | 510 t | $27.29 | $117.9M | 746 t |
| December 2024 | $33.9M | -8.9% | 203 t | $167.29 | $66.1M | 574 t |
| November 2024 | $13.4M | -26.6% | 178 t | $75.30 | $67.0M | 751 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.