Magnets and electromagnets: South Korea exports and imports
HS 8505 · 전자석, 영구자석과 자화(磁化)한 후 영구자석으로 사용되는 물품, 전자석이나 영구자석식 척(chuck)ㆍ클램프와 이와 유사한 가공물 홀더, 전자석 커플링(coupling)ㆍ클러치와 브레이크, 전자석 리프팅헤드(lifting head) · latest month: October 2026
In October 2026, South Korea exported $24.9 million of magnets and electromagnets (HS 8505), up 17.2% from September 2026 and up 28.6% from October 2025.
Over the 12 months to October 2026, exports of magnets and electromagnets (HS 8505) totalled $252.5 million, up 3.8% from the 12 months before ($243.2 million).
The largest destination over the 12 months to October 2026 was the United States ($49.4 million, 19.6% of the total), followed by Mexico and China.
That was 0.1% of South Korea's exports under HS chapter 85 (electrical machinery and electronics) over the same 12 months.
Imports in October 2026 were $54.9 million (up 14.3% from October 2025), leaving a deficit of $30.1 million for the month.
Official description of HS 8505: Electro-magnets; permanent magnets and articles intended to become permanent magnets after magnetisation; electromagnetic or permanent magnet chucks, clamps and similar holding devices; electro-magnetic couplings, clutches and brakes; electro-magnetic lifting heads.
Last 24 months
Subheadings under HS 8505
| Code | Product | Exports, 12 months | Share | vs 12 months before | October 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8505.11 | Of metal | $53.3M | 21.1% | +9.4% | $8.7M |
| 8505.11.1000 | Of alnico | $1.3M | 2.4% | -31.2% | $150K |
| 8505.11.9000 | Other | $52.0M | 97.6% | +11.1% | $8.5M |
| 8505.19 | Other | $64.5M | 25.5% | +7.7% | $4.6M |
| 8505.19.1000 | Of iron oxide | $45.4M | 70.4% | +4.6% | $3.6M |
| 8505.19.9000 | Other | $19.1M | 29.6% | +15.9% | $1.0M |
| 8505.20 | Electro-magnetic couplings, clutches and brakes | $7.5M | 3.0% | -25.8% | $860K |
| 8505.90 | Other, including parts | $127.2M | 50.4% | +2.2% | $10.7M |
| 8505.90.1010 | Of a kind used solely or principally for magnetic resonance imaging apparatus other than electromagnets of heading 90.18 | $2.7M | 2.1% | +38.2% | $191K |
| 8505.90.1090 | Other | $59.6M | 46.9% | +5.3% | $5.8M |
| 8505.90.2000 | Electro-magnetic or permanent magnet chucks, clamps, vices and similar work holders | $3.2M | 2.5% | +41.8% | $845K |
| 8505.90.3000 | Electro-magnetic lifting heads | $743K | 0.6% | -5.9% | $126 |
| 8505.90.9000 | Parts | $60.9M | 47.9% | -3.1% | $3.9M |
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. 135 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 | $49.4M | 19.6% | +13.6% | 1 | $3.8M |
| 2 | Mexico | $36.9M | 14.6% | +8.0% | 2 | $6.9M |
| 3 | China | $25.6M | 10.1% | -11.7% | 3 | $2.3M |
| 4 | Japan | $20.5M | 8.1% | +21.7% | 6 | $2.6M |
| 5 | Vietnam | $17.7M | 7.0% | -5.3% | 5 | $1.3M |
| 6 | Thailand | $17.6M | 7.0% | +12.8% | 7 | $1.7M |
| 7 | India | $17.1M | 6.8% | -9.7% | 4 | $1.6M |
| 8 | Italy | $16.0M | 6.3% | +15.9% | 9 | $1.4M |
| 9 | Germany | $11.5M | 4.5% | +24.7% | 10 | $955K |
| 10 | Hungary | $11.1M | 4.4% | -28.1% | 8 | $340K |
| 11 | Türkiye | $8.7M | 3.5% | +16.6% | 11 | $307K |
| 12 | Slovenia | $3.1M | 1.2% | +241.0% | 19 | $565K |
| 13 | Netherlands | $2.1M | 0.8% | +7.8% | 15 | $214K |
| 14 | Brazil | $1.7M | 0.7% | -34.5% | 12 | $71K |
| 15 | Poland | $1.6M | 0.6% | +12.2% | 17 | $195K |
| 16 | Argentina | $1.5M | 0.6% | -31.1% | 14 | $86K |
| 17 | Philippines | $1.3M | 0.5% | -10.2% | 16 | $127K |
| 18 | Switzerland | $1.3M | 0.5% | +1,431% | 37 | $23K |
| 19 | United Kingdom | $1.2M | 0.5% | +171.7% | 23 | $39K |
| 20 | Indonesia | $1.2M | 0.5% | -53.8% | 13 | $67K |
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 | $24.9M | +28.6% | 1,764 t | $14.10 | $54.9M | 1,922 t |
| September 2026 | $21.2M | -8.9% | 1,817 t | $11.68 | $72.4M | 2,415 t |
| August 2026 | $16.2M | -18.7% | 1,522 t | $10.64 | $50.2M | 1,904 t |
| July 2026 | $23.1M | -0.1% | 1,970 t | $11.72 | $61.8M | 2,171 t |
| June 2026 | $22.5M | +5.7% | 1,869 t | $12.02 | $61.2M | 2,596 t |
| May 2026 | $18.3M | -9.8% | 1,626 t | $11.24 | $40.8M | 2,010 t |
| April 2026 | $24.1M | +2.5% | 1,968 t | $12.25 | $62.1M | 2,659 t |
| March 2026 | $20.4M | -2.7% | 1,792 t | $11.38 | $46.4M | 1,931 t |
| February 2026 | $18.2M | -7.6% | 1,617 t | $11.24 | $38.5M | 1,932 t |
| January 2026 | $21.3M | +37.2% | 1,829 t | $11.64 | $52.4M | 2,272 t |
| December 2025 | $21.4M | +24.2% | 1,742 t | $12.29 | $51.6M | 2,452 t |
| November 2025 | $21.0M | +9.9% | 1,624 t | $12.92 | $43.5M | 2,067 t |
| October 2025 | $19.3M | +3.0% | 1,515 t | $12.76 | $48.0M | 1,952 t |
| September 2025 | $23.3M | +25.5% | 1,843 t | $12.65 | $57.8M | 2,608 t |
| August 2025 | $19.9M | +5.6% | 1,725 t | $11.55 | $36.1M | 1,801 t |
| July 2025 | $23.1M | +1.8% | 1,953 t | $11.84 | $40.1M | 2,160 t |
| June 2025 | $21.3M | +16.2% | 1,791 t | $11.87 | $28.9M | 1,776 t |
| May 2025 | $20.3M | -3.1% | 1,822 t | $11.12 | $22.7M | 1,699 t |
| April 2025 | $23.5M | +13.4% | 2,187 t | $10.75 | $29.9M | 2,176 t |
| March 2025 | $21.0M | +2.7% | 1,852 t | $11.32 | $38.9M | 2,094 t |
| February 2025 | $19.7M | +3.3% | 1,783 t | $11.03 | $34.2M | 1,821 t |
| January 2025 | $15.5M | -28.7% | 1,545 t | $10.04 | $39.2M | 2,076 t |
| December 2024 | $17.2M | -10.0% | 1,791 t | $9.62 | $41.4M | 2,261 t |
| November 2024 | $19.1M | -14.5% | 1,852 t | $10.30 | $33.4M | 1,903 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.