Machine tools using laser, ultrasonic, plasma or similar processes: South Korea exports and imports
HS 8456 · 각종 재료의 가공 공작기계[레이저나 그 밖의 광선ㆍ광자빔ㆍ초음파ㆍ방전ㆍ전기화학ㆍ전자빔ㆍ이온빔ㆍ플라즈마아크(plasma arc) 방식으로 재료의 일부를 제거하여 가공하는 것으로 한정한다]와 워터제트 절단기 · latest month: October 2026
In October 2026, South Korea exported $27.7 million of machine tools using laser, ultrasonic, plasma or similar processes (HS 8456), up 28.0% from September 2026 and up 27.6% from October 2025.
Over the 12 months to October 2026, exports of machine tools using laser, ultrasonic, plasma or similar processes (HS 8456) totalled $298.2 million, up 18.2% from the 12 months before ($252.3 million).
The largest destination over the 12 months to October 2026 was China ($68.5 million, 23.0% of the total), followed by Taiwan and the United States.
That was 0.2% of South Korea's exports under HS chapter 84 (machinery, boilers and computers) over the same 12 months.
Imports in October 2026 were $22.2 million (up 22.2% from October 2025), leaving a surplus of $5.5 million for the month.
Official description of HS 8456: Machine-tools for working any material by removal of material, by laser or other light or photon beam, ultrasonic, electro-discharge, electro-chemical, electron beam, ionic-beam or plasma arc processes; water-jet cutting machines.
Last 24 months
Subheadings under HS 8456
| Code | Product | Exports, 12 months | Share | vs 12 months before | October 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8456.11 | Operated by laser processes | $250.4M | 84.0% | +18.5% | $22.7M |
| 8456.11.1000 | Of a kind used solely or principally for the manufacture of printed circuits, printed circuit assemblies, parts of headi | $137.8M | 55.0% | +59.0% | $8.4M |
| 8456.11.9000 | Other | $112.6M | 45.0% | -9.6% | $14.4M |
| 8456.12 | Operated by other light or photon beam processes | $770K | 0.3% | +95.9% | $0 |
| 8456.12.1000 | Of a kind used solely or principally for the manufacture of printed circuits, printed circuit assemblies, parts of headi | $557K | 72.3% | +47.2% | $0 |
| 8456.12.9000 | Other | $214K | 27.7% | +1,325% | $0 |
| 8456.20 | Operated by ultrasonic processes | $1.9M | 0.7% | +20.8% | $152K |
| 8456.30 | Operated by electro-discharge processes | $9.2M | 3.1% | +12.6% | $636K |
| 8456.30.1010 | Wire-cut machine, operated by electro-discharge processes | $1.7M | 18.6% | -29.1% | $449K |
| 8456.30.1090 | Other | $7.0M | 76.6% | +46.4% | $175K |
| 8456.30.9000 | Other | $438K | 4.8% | -53.5% | $12K |
| 8456.40 | Operated by plasma arc processes | $2.2M | 0.7% | -7.4% | $363K |
| 8456.50 | Water-jet cutting machines | $22.6M | 7.6% | +5.0% | $3.6M |
| 8456.90 | Other | $11.1M | 3.7% | +58.4% | $210K |
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. 68 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 | China | $68.5M | 23.0% | +137.6% | 4 | $10.8M |
| 2 | Taiwan | $53.4M | 17.9% | +49.4% | 2 | $2.0M |
| 3 | United States | $51.2M | 17.2% | -27.5% | 1 | $3.5M |
| 4 | Vietnam | $51.0M | 17.1% | +53.1% | 3 | $4.0M |
| 5 | Malaysia | $19.3M | 6.5% | +43.0% | 6 | $183K |
| 6 | India | $13.6M | 4.6% | +126.4% | 10 | $5.2M |
| 7 | Singapore | $7.4M | 2.5% | +121.9% | 13 | $0 |
| 8 | Philippines | $6.0M | 2.0% | -35.4% | 7 | $0 |
| 9 | Mexico | $5.0M | 1.7% | -19.0% | 8 | $653K |
| 10 | Germany | $4.2M | 1.4% | -27.3% | 11 | $340K |
| 11 | Portugal | $4.2M | 1.4% | +831.4% | 24 | $0 |
| 12 | Japan | $3.0M | 1.0% | -22.9% | 12 | $159K |
| 13 | Thailand | $2.9M | 1.0% | +6.4% | 14 | $687K |
| 14 | France | $2.2M | 0.8% | +1,425% | 34 | $0 |
| 15 | Saudi Arabia | $966K | 0.3% | -92.9% | 5 | $0 |
| 16 | Türkiye | $879K | 0.3% | +20.9% | 22 | $786 |
| 17 | United Kingdom | $633K | 0.2% | -40.4% | 18 | $27K |
| 18 | Indonesia | $612K | 0.2% | -30.6% | 21 | $68K |
| 19 | Italy | $589K | 0.2% | -50.8% | 17 | $21K |
| 20 | Australia | $437K | 0.1% | -64.4% | 16 | $7,100 |
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 | $27.7M | +27.6% | 587 t | $47.18 | $22.2M | 1,453 t |
| September 2026 | $21.6M | +40.9% | 632 t | $34.22 | $32.4M | 1,995 t |
| August 2026 | $29.4M | +84.8% | 660 t | $44.55 | $23.0M | 1,617 t |
| July 2026 | $21.6M | +20.1% | 400 t | $54.00 | $18.9M | 1,408 t |
| June 2026 | $22.7M | +87.3% | 364 t | $62.34 | $28.2M | 1,518 t |
| May 2026 | $19.2M | +27.5% | 365 t | $52.73 | $17.7M | 830 t |
| April 2026 | $29.0M | -24.0% | 545 t | $53.22 | $19.9M | 1,380 t |
| March 2026 | $25.6M | +6.6% | 640 t | $39.99 | $23.3M | 985 t |
| February 2026 | $15.5M | -20.4% | 317 t | $48.82 | $15.7M | 623 t |
| January 2026 | $34.7M | +162.5% | 781 t | $44.42 | $20.1M | 789 t |
| December 2025 | $32.1M | +3.2% | 696 t | $46.10 | $19.8M | 948 t |
| November 2025 | $19.1M | -32.5% | 594 t | $32.08 | $16.8M | 1,151 t |
| October 2025 | $21.7M | -34.3% | 512 t | $42.39 | $18.2M | 1,153 t |
| September 2025 | $15.4M | -34.9% | 412 t | $37.26 | $19.1M | 1,613 t |
| August 2025 | $15.9M | -40.5% | 355 t | $44.85 | $22.1M | 1,721 t |
| July 2025 | $18.0M | -36.2% | 396 t | $45.47 | $24.8M | 1,894 t |
| June 2025 | $12.1M | -38.1% | 273 t | $44.31 | $25.1M | 1,634 t |
| May 2025 | $15.1M | -38.0% | 366 t | $41.24 | $19.9M | 1,572 t |
| April 2025 | $38.2M | +7.4% | 884 t | $43.24 | $27.7M | 1,467 t |
| March 2025 | $24.0M | -10.8% | 540 t | $44.47 | $20.9M | 889 t |
| February 2025 | $19.4M | +7.3% | 580 t | $33.49 | $20.1M | 797 t |
| January 2025 | $13.2M | -45.5% | 352 t | $37.54 | $18.6M | 850 t |
| December 2024 | $31.1M | -29.2% | 762 t | $40.84 | $30.4M | 1,238 t |
| November 2024 | $28.2M | +30.3% | 700 t | $40.31 | $18.7M | 1,001 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.