Machine-tools for drilling, boring, milling, etc.: South Korea exports and imports
HS 8459 · 금속 절삭가공용 공작기계[웨이타입(way-type) 유닛헤드머신(unit head machine)을 포함한다]로서 드릴링(drilling)ㆍ보링(boring)ㆍ밀링(milling)ㆍ나선가공ㆍ태핑(tapping)에 사용되는 것[제8458호의 선반(터닝센터를 포함한다)은 제외한다] · latest month: October 2026
In October 2026, South Korea exported $6.0 million of machine-tools for drilling, boring, milling, etc. (HS 8459), up 62.5% from September 2026 and up 96.1% from October 2025.
Over the 12 months to October 2026, exports of machine-tools for drilling, boring, milling, etc. (HS 8459) totalled $69.7 million, down 11.9% from the 12 months before ($79.1 million).
The largest destination over the 12 months to October 2026 was the United States ($14.3 million, 20.5% of the total), followed by China and India.
That was 0.0% of South Korea's exports under HS chapter 84 (machinery, boilers and computers) over the same 12 months.
Imports in October 2026 were $2.2 million (down 7.0% from October 2025), leaving a surplus of $3.8 million for the month.
Official description of HS 8459: Machine-tools (including way-type unit head machines) for drilling, boring, milling, threading or tapping by removing metal, other than lathes (including turning centres) of heading 84.58.
Last 24 months
Subheadings under HS 8459
| Code | Product | Exports, 12 months | Share | vs 12 months before | October 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8459.10 | Way-type unit head machines | $248K | 0.4% | -55.0% | $111K |
| 8459.21 | Numerically controlled | $3.5M | 5.1% | -4.7% | $504K |
| 8459.21.1000 | Deep hole drilling machines having the maximum drilling depth exceeding 5m | $0 | 0.0% | -100.0% | $0 |
| 8459.21.9000 | Other | $3.5M | 100.0% | +4.9% | $504K |
| 8459.29 | Other | $5.0M | 7.2% | +1.5% | $165K |
| 8459.29.1000 | Radial drilling machines | $930K | 18.5% | -28.5% | $19K |
| 8459.29.2000 | Upright drilling machines | $24K | 0.5% | -97.5% | $0 |
| 8459.29.3000 | Multi-spindle drilling machines | $2.0M | 39.3% | +11.6% | $28K |
| 8459.29.9000 | Other | $2.1M | 41.8% | +131.6% | $118K |
| 8459.31 | Numerically controlled | $8.6M | 12.4% | +53.8% | $899K |
| 8459.39 | Other | $779K | 1.1% | -44.7% | $1,240 |
| 8459.41 | Numerically controlled | $24.5M | 35.1% | -10.5% | $2.1M |
| 8459.41.1000 | Jig boring machines | $76K | 0.3% | -41.0% | $0 |
| 8459.41.2000 | Horizontal boring machines | $23.8M | 97.2% | -7.7% | $2.1M |
| 8459.41.9000 | Other | $619K | 2.5% | -56.9% | $0 |
| 8459.49 | Other | $823K | 1.2% | +42.1% | $720 |
| 8459.51 | Numerically controlled | $338K | 0.5% | +149.8% | $0 |
| 8459.59 | Other | $1.4M | 1.9% | +17.8% | $67K |
| 8459.61 | Numerically controlled | $10.3M | 14.8% | -38.4% | $1.3M |
| 8459.61.1000 | Bed type milling machines | $6.9M | 66.5% | -0.9% | $564K |
| 8459.61.2000 | Planing milling machines | $462K | 4.5% | -87.3% | $462K |
| 8459.61.9000 | Other | $3.0M | 29.0% | -51.7% | $313K |
| 8459.69 | Other | $5.8M | 8.3% | -23.1% | $608K |
| 8459.69.1000 | Bed type milling machines | $982K | 16.9% | -41.4% | $157K |
| 8459.69.9000 | Other | $4.8M | 83.1% | -17.9% | $451K |
| 8459.70 | Other threading or tapping machines | $8.4M | 12.0% | -10.4% | $172K |
| 8459.70.1000 | Tapping machines | $5.2M | 62.7% | +96.2% | $120K |
| 8459.70.9000 | Other threading machines | $3.1M | 37.3% | -53.2% | $52K |
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. 78 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 | $14.3M | 20.5% | -43.8% | 1 | $1.9M |
| 2 | China | $13.7M | 19.6% | -3.1% | 2 | $172K |
| 3 | India | $11.2M | 16.1% | +67.9% | 3 | $1.4M |
| 4 | Japan | $5.0M | 7.1% | +36.9% | 6 | $130K |
| 5 | Vietnam | $3.7M | 5.3% | +15.8% | 7 | $233K |
| 6 | Brazil | $2.4M | 3.4% | +1,860% | 32 | $0 |
| 7 | Mexico | $2.2M | 3.1% | -53.3% | 4 | $119K |
| 8 | Australia | $1.8M | 2.6% | +61.7% | 11 | $111K |
| 9 | Saudi Arabia | $1.7M | 2.5% | +128.3% | 16 | $739K |
| 10 | Israel | $1.6M | 2.3% | – | 57 | $0 |
| 11 | United Arab Emirates | $1.2M | 1.7% | -66.5% | 5 | $4,434 |
| 12 | Türkiye | $1.2M | 1.7% | +3.9% | 10 | $562K |
| 13 | Kazakhstan | $1.2M | 1.7% | +651.4% | 31 | $0 |
| 14 | United Kingdom | $1.1M | 1.5% | +136.4% | 19 | $147K |
| 15 | Mongolia | $927K | 1.3% | +1,218% | 37 | $0 |
| 16 | South Africa | $899K | 1.3% | – | 61 | $0 |
| 17 | Germany | $787K | 1.1% | -67.8% | 8 | $111K |
| 18 | Malaysia | $740K | 1.1% | +1,196% | 40 | $168K |
| 19 | Canada | $595K | 0.9% | -23.5% | 15 | $0 |
| 20 | Taiwan | $497K | 0.7% | +464.4% | 34 | $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 | $6.0M | +96.1% | 869 t | $6.90 | $2.2M | 564 t |
| September 2026 | $3.7M | -52.2% | 753 t | $4.90 | $4.5M | 425 t |
| August 2026 | $3.6M | -23.0% | 574 t | $6.29 | $9.3M | 862 t |
| July 2026 | $12.1M | +118.7% | 1,254 t | $9.63 | $4.3M | 610 t |
| June 2026 | $7.9M | +16.3% | 985 t | $7.99 | $2.1M | 480 t |
| May 2026 | $5.6M | -28.2% | 535 t | $10.39 | $1.5M | 297 t |
| April 2026 | $6.9M | +2.2% | 798 t | $8.66 | $2.7M | 323 t |
| March 2026 | $5.0M | -52.7% | 439 t | $11.32 | $3.2M | 409 t |
| February 2026 | $3.6M | -48.2% | 478 t | $7.61 | $19.2M | 695 t |
| January 2026 | $4.4M | -28.3% | 497 t | $8.81 | $8.9M | 312 t |
| December 2025 | $5.3M | -39.1% | 761 t | $6.97 | $6.0M | 659 t |
| November 2025 | $5.7M | +27.1% | 561 t | $10.22 | $4.5M | 485 t |
| October 2025 | $3.1M | -74.7% | 382 t | $8.00 | $2.4M | 319 t |
| September 2025 | $7.7M | -3.5% | 784 t | $9.86 | $10.8M | 997 t |
| August 2025 | $4.7M | -13.3% | 575 t | $8.15 | $2.1M | 286 t |
| July 2025 | $5.5M | -35.1% | 602 t | $9.18 | $4.5M | 471 t |
| June 2025 | $6.8M | -39.0% | 729 t | $9.29 | $8.4M | 401 t |
| May 2025 | $7.7M | -20.5% | 735 t | $10.53 | $1.7M | 260 t |
| April 2025 | $6.8M | -42.1% | 597 t | $11.33 | $6.2M | 590 t |
| March 2025 | $10.5M | +2.4% | 996 t | $10.55 | $8.3M | 583 t |
| February 2025 | $7.0M | -3.4% | 820 t | $8.56 | $4.9M | 345 t |
| January 2025 | $6.1M | -47.9% | 642 t | $9.52 | $2.0M | 241 t |
| December 2024 | $8.7M | -37.8% | 1,695 t | $5.14 | $3.3M | 331 t |
| November 2024 | $4.5M | -48.6% | 492 t | $9.17 | $2.5M | 291 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.