Surveying, hydrographic, oceanographic, hydrological, etc.: South Korea exports and imports
HS 9015 · 토지측량기기(사진측량용을 포함한다)ㆍ수로측량기기ㆍ해양측량기기ㆍ수리계측기기ㆍ기상관측기기ㆍ지구물리학용 기기[컴퍼스(compass)는 제외한다]ㆍ거리측정기 · latest month: October 2026
In October 2026, South Korea exported $3.2 million of surveying, hydrographic, oceanographic, hydrological, etc. (HS 9015), up 253.0% from September 2026 and up 91.5% from October 2025.
Over the 12 months to October 2026, exports of surveying, hydrographic, oceanographic, hydrological, etc. (HS 9015) totalled $24.2 million, down 17.7% from the 12 months before ($29.4 million).
The largest destination over the 12 months to October 2026 was the United States ($3.7 million, 15.3% of the total), followed by Japan and Romania.
That was 0.1% of South Korea's exports under HS chapter 90 (optical, measuring and medical instruments) over the same 12 months.
Imports in October 2026 were $8.5 million (down 15.8% from October 2025), leaving a deficit of $5.4 million for the month.
Official description of HS 9015: Surveying (including photogrammetrical surveying), hydrographic, oceanographic, hydrological, meteorological or geophysical instruments and appliances, excluding compasses; rangefinders.
Last 24 months
Subheadings under HS 9015
| Code | Product | Exports, 12 months | Share | vs 12 months before | October 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9015.10 | Rangefinders | $5.1M | 21.0% | -54.8% | $495K |
| 9015.20 | Theodolites and tachymeters (tacheometers) | $447K | 1.8% | +48.0% | $69K |
| 9015.30 | Levels | $415K | 1.7% | -24.1% | $85K |
| 9015.40 | Photogrammetrical surveying instruments and appliances | $25K | 0.1% | -55.8% | $0 |
| 9015.80 | Other instruments and appliances | $17.1M | 70.8% | +21.3% | $2.3M |
| 9015.80.1000 | For use in the field | $195K | 1.1% | -68.3% | $998 |
| 9015.80.2000 | For hydrographic use | $292K | 1.7% | -83.2% | $13K |
| 9015.80.3000 | For oceanographic use | $4.0M | 23.4% | +25.9% | $132K |
| 9015.80.4000 | For hydrological use | $663K | 3.9% | -35.2% | $5,157 |
| 9015.80.5000 | For meteorological use | $7.6M | 44.4% | +107.0% | $1.6M |
| 9015.80.9000 | Other | $4.4M | 25.5% | +12.3% | $512K |
| 9015.90 | Parts and accessories | $1.1M | 4.6% | -64.7% | $233K |
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. 105 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 | $3.7M | 15.3% | -50.4% | 1 | $366K |
| 2 | Japan | $3.7M | 15.2% | -23.0% | 2 | $257K |
| 3 | Romania | $2.1M | 8.7% | – | 57 | $1,869 |
| 4 | India | $1.9M | 7.9% | +230.0% | 9 | $66K |
| 5 | China | $1.5M | 6.1% | -49.1% | 3 | $174K |
| 6 | Indonesia | $1.3M | 5.3% | -34.3% | 4 | $1.3M |
| 7 | Canada | $1.1M | 4.5% | +140.1% | 12 | $407K |
| 8 | United Arab Emirates | $1.1M | 4.4% | +1,488% | 34 | $0 |
| 9 | Singapore | $988K | 4.1% | +181.4% | 18 | $19K |
| 10 | Thailand | $718K | 3.0% | +68.9% | 15 | $150K |
| 11 | Saudi Arabia | $695K | 2.9% | +815.2% | 32 | $5,800 |
| 12 | Norway | $612K | 2.5% | -59.6% | 5 | $0 |
| 13 | United Kingdom | $591K | 2.4% | +45.0% | 16 | $10K |
| 14 | Hong Kong | $585K | 2.4% | +69.4% | 19 | $16K |
| 15 | Guam | $365K | 1.5% | +559.4% | 37 | $0 |
| 16 | Mexico | $294K | 1.2% | +25.0% | 21 | $0 |
| 17 | Taiwan | $272K | 1.1% | -44.8% | 11 | $92K |
| 18 | Vietnam | $269K | 1.1% | +37.7% | 25 | $44K |
| 19 | Germany | $250K | 1.0% | -42.8% | 14 | $31K |
| 20 | Philippines | $229K | 0.9% | -79.3% | 6 | $52K |
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 | $3.2M | +91.5% | 17.3 t | $184.27 | $8.5M | 43.4 t |
| September 2026 | $901K | -54.8% | 5.2 t | $172.81 | $16.7M | 55.2 t |
| August 2026 | $1.8M | -42.1% | 10.3 t | $170.72 | $9.2M | 47.7 t |
| July 2026 | $5.3M | +117.9% | 15.9 t | $334.00 | $10.1M | 64.0 t |
| June 2026 | $1.6M | -30.6% | 6.4 t | $250.60 | $10.1M | 47.8 t |
| May 2026 | $3.6M | +17.5% | 41.7 t | $85.34 | $20.2M | 62.4 t |
| April 2026 | $2.3M | +37.1% | 13.1 t | $172.00 | $12.9M | 60.1 t |
| March 2026 | $1.3M | -53.3% | 14.0 t | $89.83 | $10.5M | 41.0 t |
| February 2026 | $709K | -75.9% | 2.9 t | $243.41 | $9.4M | 51.1 t |
| January 2026 | $882K | -67.4% | 15.7 t | $56.34 | $6.9M | 43.5 t |
| December 2025 | $1.8M | -38.1% | 16.7 t | $108.53 | $13.9M | 74.6 t |
| November 2025 | $976K | -51.8% | 26.4 t | $36.94 | $15.3M | 36.3 t |
| October 2025 | $1.7M | -45.1% | 6.3 t | $265.70 | $10.1M | 50.3 t |
| September 2025 | $2.0M | -49.0% | 22.5 t | $88.59 | $15.0M | 70.2 t |
| August 2025 | $3.0M | +60.9% | 10.7 t | $284.39 | $43.7M | 79.9 t |
| July 2025 | $2.4M | -9.2% | 14.3 t | $170.90 | $11.5M | 53.7 t |
| June 2025 | $2.3M | +52.1% | 15.8 t | $146.21 | $13.2M | 62.6 t |
| May 2025 | $3.0M | -37.5% | 34.8 t | $87.05 | $8.8M | 39.0 t |
| April 2025 | $1.6M | +63.5% | 7.6 t | $217.43 | $14.6M | 79.6 t |
| March 2025 | $2.7M | +55.1% | 22.2 t | $120.92 | $9.4M | 59.6 t |
| February 2025 | $2.9M | +92.9% | 38.4 t | $76.60 | $10.0M | 69.1 t |
| January 2025 | $2.7M | -25.3% | 44.6 t | $60.72 | $9.1M | 61.2 t |
| December 2024 | $2.9M | -36.4% | 12.6 t | $232.71 | $17.4M | 78.6 t |
| November 2024 | $2.0M | -67.9% | 29.2 t | $69.40 | $11.0M | 104 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.