Centrifuges and filtering or purifying machinery: South Korea exports and imports
HS 8421 · 원심분리기(원심탈수기를 포함한다), 액체용이나 기체용 여과기나 청정기 · latest month: October 2026
Exports, October 2026
$269.6M
-1.4% vs previous month
vs same month a year earlier
+40.0%
export value
Exports, last 12 months
$3.03B
+15.4% vs 12 months before
Imports, October 2026
$172.3M
Export value per kg
$24.97
net weight, October 2026
In October 2026, South Korea exported $269.6 million of centrifuges and filtering or purifying machinery (HS 8421), down 1.4% from September 2026 and up 40.0% from October 2025.
Over the 12 months to October 2026, exports of centrifuges and filtering or purifying machinery (HS 8421) totalled $3.03 billion, up 15.4% from the 12 months before ($2.63 billion).
The largest destination over the 12 months to October 2026 was the United States ($743.4 million, 24.5% of the total), followed by China and Malaysia.
That was 1.9% of South Korea's exports under HS chapter 84 (machinery, boilers and computers) over the same 12 months.
Imports in October 2026 were $172.3 million (up 1.8% from October 2025), leaving a surplus of $97.3 million for the month.
Official description of HS 8421: Centrifuges, including centrifugal dryers; filtering or purifying machinery and apparatus, for liquids or gases.
Last 24 months
Subheadings under HS 8421
| Code | Product | Exports, 12 months | Share | vs 12 months before | October 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8421.11 | Cream separators | $5,492 | 0.0% | – | $187 |
| 8421.12 | Clothes-dryers | $257K | 0.0% | +244.0% | $4,539 |
| 8421.19 | Other | $10.2M | 0.3% | +2.3% | $402K |
| 8421.19.1000 | For medical, surgical or physicochemical use | $3.8M | 37.1% | -11.4% | $229K |
| 8421.19.2000 | For food industry use | $14K | 0.1% | -77.6% | $0 |
| 8421.19.3000 | For petro-chemical industry use | $33K | 0.3% | -24.7% | $0 |
| 8421.19.9000 | Other | $6.4M | 62.4% | +13.8% | $173K |
| 8421.21 | For filtering or purifying water | $829.0M | 27.4% | +6.7% | $73.1M |
| 8421.21.1000 | Of the household type | $521.7M | 62.9% | +5.6% | $43.6M |
| 8421.21.9010 | Filtering or purifying machinery and apparatus to be used with swimming pools | $1.4M | 0.2% | +21.3% | $188K |
| 8421.21.9020 | Filtering or purifying machinery and apparatus for making semiconductor devices | $989K | 0.1% | +31.7% | $313K |
| 8421.21.9090 | Other | $305.0M | 36.8% | +8.4% | $29.0M |
| 8421.22 | For filtering or purifying beverages other than water | $421K | 0.0% | -46.5% | $25K |
| 8421.23 | Oil or petrol-filters for internal combustion engines | $243.1M | 8.0% | +16.9% | $26.1M |
| 8421.23.1000 | For internal combustion engines for vehicles of Chapter 87 | $201.4M | 82.9% | +12.6% | $24.2M |
| 8421.23.2000 | For aircrafts | $1.4M | 0.6% | +313.0% | $17K |
| 8421.23.9000 | Other | $40.3M | 16.6% | +40.2% | $1.9M |
| 8421.29 | Other | $97.7M | 3.2% | +21.2% | $9.0M |
| 8421.29.1000 | For dairy industry | $30K | 0.0% | -45.5% | $8,130 |
| 8421.29.2010 | Of fluoropolymers and with filter or purifier membrane thickness not exceeding 140 microns | $3,872 | 0.0% | -81.9% | $0 |
| 8421.29.2090 | Other | $1.8M | 1.8% | -49.0% | $22K |
| 8421.29.3010 | Of fluoropolymers and with filter or purifier membrane thickness not exceeding 140 microns | $224K | 0.2% | +310.1% | $0 |
| 8421.29.3090 | Other | $1.9M | 1.9% | -63.0% | $52K |
| 8421.29.4000 | For aircrafts | $375K | 0.4% | -5.0% | $8,769 |
| 8421.29.9010 | Of fluoropolymers and with filter or purifier membrane thickness not exceeding 140 microns | $277K | 0.3% | +1,249% | $2,450 |
| 8421.29.9090 | Other | $93.1M | 95.3% | +30.2% | $8.9M |
| 8421.31 | Intake air filters for internal combustion engines | $62.9M | 2.1% | -5.0% | $5.4M |
| 8421.31.1000 | For internal combustion engines for vehicles of Chapter 87 | $51.3M | 81.6% | -5.6% | $4.3M |
| 8421.31.2000 | For aircrafts | $128K | 0.2% | +164.4% | $0 |
| 8421.31.9000 | Other | $11.4M | 18.2% | -2.9% | $1.2M |
| 8421.32 | Catalytic converters or particulate filters, whether or not combined, for purifying or filtering exhaust gases from inte | $223.8M | 7.4% | +44.1% | $23.0M |
| 8421.39 | Other | $861.9M | 28.5% | +21.8% | $75.6M |
| 8421.39.1000 | For the household type | $86.5M | 10.0% | +5.9% | $7.0M |
| 8421.39.2000 | For purifying exhaust gas for vehicles of Chapter 87 | $106.0M | 12.3% | -27.2% | $7.0M |
| 8421.39.9011 | With stainless steel housing, and with inlet and outlet tube bores with inside diameters not exceeding 1.3 ㎝ | $1.8M | 0.2% | +2.6% | $160K |
| 8421.39.9019 | Other | $48.6M | 5.6% | +26.5% | $5.0M |
| 8421.39.9021 | With stainless steel housing, and with inlet and outlet tube bores with inside diameters not exceeding 1.3 ㎝ | $747K | 0.1% | -2.7% | $52K |
| 8421.39.9029 | Other | $382.3M | 44.4% | +72.7% | $36.9M |
| 8421.39.9030 | For aircrafts | $3.2M | 0.4% | +14.5% | $417K |
| 8421.39.9091 | With stainless steel housing, and with inlet and outlet tube bores with inside diameters not exceeding 1.3 ㎝ | $335K | 0.0% | -94.4% | $254K |
| 8421.39.9092 | Other, HEPA filter which can collect 99.97% or more of 0.3 micrometers of particle in the air | $2.1M | 0.2% | +184.5% | $1.2M |
| 8421.39.9099 | Other | $230.3M | 26.7% | +10.5% | $17.7M |
| 8421.91 | Of centrifuges, including centrifugal dryers | $7.4M | 0.2% | -14.7% | $826K |
| 8421.99 | Other | $692.3M | 22.9% | +13.4% | $56.2M |
| 8421.99.1000 | For purifying exhaust gas for vehicles of Chapter 87 | $41.3M | 6.0% | -17.9% | $2.6M |
| 8421.99.9010 | Of filtering or purifying machinery and apparatus, for internal combustion engines | $25.0M | 3.6% | -13.8% | $2.0M |
| 8421.99.9021 | Of filtering or purifying machinery and apparatus for liquids, made of fluoropolymers and with filter or purifier membra | $39.4M | 5.7% | +15.2% | $3.5M |
| 8421.99.9029 | Other | $182.1M | 26.3% | +10.8% | $16.0M |
| 8421.99.9031 | Of filtering or purifying machinery and apparatus for liquids, made of fluoropolymers and with filter or purifier membra | $100K | 0.0% | -57.8% | $29K |
| 8421.99.9039 | Other | $34.0M | 4.9% | +42.8% | $1.7M |
| 8421.99.9091 | Of filtering or purifying machinery and apparatus for liquids, made of fluoropolymers and with filter or purifier membra | $38.7M | 5.6% | +35.0% | $2.8M |
| 8421.99.9099 | Other | $331.7M | 47.9% | +18.4% | $27.6M |
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. 196 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 | $743.4M | 24.5% | +33.5% | 1 | $60.4M |
| 2 | China | $423.3M | 14.0% | -5.7% | 2 | $37.3M |
| 3 | Malaysia | $321.9M | 10.6% | +3.4% | 3 | $29.4M |
| 4 | Japan | $212.9M | 7.0% | -6.8% | 4 | $17.6M |
| 5 | Taiwan | $147.2M | 4.9% | +15.0% | 5 | $15.8M |
| 6 | Mexico | $119.0M | 3.9% | +133.7% | 11 | $14.1M |
| 7 | Singapore | $104.7M | 3.5% | +72.6% | 8 | $11.3M |
| 8 | India | $104.5M | 3.4% | +49.4% | 6 | $11.3M |
| 9 | Vietnam | $89.6M | 3.0% | +35.3% | 7 | $5.6M |
| 10 | Thailand | $73.4M | 2.4% | +29.0% | 9 | $4.6M |
| 11 | United Arab Emirates | $54.0M | 1.8% | -1.0% | 10 | $3.7M |
| 12 | Saudi Arabia | $53.7M | 1.8% | +128.7% | 20 | $2.8M |
| 13 | Germany | $53.2M | 1.8% | +10.5% | 12 | $4.3M |
| 14 | Türkiye | $41.8M | 1.4% | +2.6% | 14 | $2.5M |
| 15 | Indonesia | $36.5M | 1.2% | -15.3% | 13 | $4.6M |
| 16 | Netherlands | $31.5M | 1.0% | 0.0% | 16 | $3.5M |
| 17 | Philippines | $28.5M | 0.9% | +66.0% | 23 | $2.9M |
| 18 | Canada | $26.8M | 0.9% | -24.2% | 15 | $2.8M |
| 19 | Belgium | $22.9M | 0.8% | -9.7% | 18 | $1.9M |
| 20 | Australia | $22.9M | 0.8% | -12.1% | 17 | $2.0M |
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 | $269.6M | +40.0% | 10,797 t | $24.97 | $172.3M | 4,970 t |
| September 2026 | $273.5M | +15.8% | 11,105 t | $24.63 | $196.9M | 5,696 t |
| August 2026 | $248.0M | +30.5% | 9,851 t | $25.18 | $171.2M | 4,913 t |
| July 2026 | $309.5M | +32.8% | 15,183 t | $20.38 | $182.2M | 5,095 t |
| June 2026 | $280.2M | +22.5% | 13,892 t | $20.17 | $192.1M | 5,157 t |
| May 2026 | $226.2M | +1.7% | 9,480 t | $23.86 | $150.9M | 4,257 t |
| April 2026 | $267.8M | +3.5% | 11,110 t | $24.10 | $171.9M | 5,033 t |
| March 2026 | $246.9M | +12.3% | 10,347 t | $23.86 | $171.5M | 5,100 t |
| February 2026 | $210.9M | -2.6% | 8,575 t | $24.59 | $176.6M | 5,594 t |
| January 2026 | $228.4M | +24.7% | 9,423 t | $24.24 | $150.8M | 4,879 t |
| December 2025 | $245.6M | +7.7% | 10,243 t | $23.98 | $172.1M | 5,448 t |
| November 2025 | $222.4M | +3.2% | 8,947 t | $24.86 | $138.8M | 4,279 t |
| October 2025 | $192.7M | -9.3% | 7,875 t | $24.46 | $169.2M | 4,047 t |
| September 2025 | $236.1M | +13.1% | 10,447 t | $22.60 | $171.0M | 4,863 t |
| August 2025 | $190.1M | -19.3% | 8,329 t | $22.82 | $149.8M | 4,430 t |
| July 2025 | $233.0M | -77.1% | 9,574 t | $24.34 | $173.5M | 5,218 t |
| June 2025 | $228.8M | -0.6% | 9,266 t | $24.69 | $153.2M | 4,460 t |
| May 2025 | $222.4M | -3.8% | 9,166 t | $24.26 | $164.6M | 5,159 t |
| April 2025 | $258.8M | +4.5% | 10,710 t | $24.16 | $168.7M | 6,315 t |
| March 2025 | $219.9M | +4.2% | 9,422 t | $23.33 | $180.4M | 6,725 t |
| February 2025 | $216.5M | +2.0% | 9,078 t | $23.84 | $139.4M | 4,973 t |
| January 2025 | $183.2M | -18.6% | 8,430 t | $21.73 | $116.7M | 4,657 t |
| December 2024 | $228.1M | +10.8% | 9,696 t | $23.53 | $172.1M | 5,342 t |
| November 2024 | $215.5M | -6.4% | 9,278 t | $23.22 | $157.7M | 4,866 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.