South Korea exports: December 2024
Monthly report, generated from Korea Customs Service statistics
In December 2024, South Korea exported $61.34 billion of goods, up 9.0% from November 2024 and up 6.6% from December 2023.
The three largest destinations were the United States ($11.89 billion, 19.4%), China ($11.77 billion, 19.2%), Vietnam ($4.93 billion, 8.0%).
Compared with December 2023, the largest increases in export value by destination were Taiwan (+$2.17 billion), China (+$913.8 million), the United States (+$611.0 million).
The largest decreases by destination were the Marshall Islands (-$1.80 billion), Australia (-$282.0 million), Singapore (-$207.8 million).
Within the top 10 destinations, Taiwan moved from 6th to 4th, Hong Kong moved from 4th to 5th, Japan moved from 5th to 6th compared with December 2023.
Top destinations
| Rank | Country | Exports | Share | vs November 2024 | vs December 2023 | Rank a year earlier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States | $11.89B | 19.4% | +14.7% | +5.4% | 1 |
| 2 | China | $11.77B | 19.2% | +4.3% | +8.4% | 2 |
| 3 | Vietnam | $4.93B | 8.0% | -4.1% | +6.5% | 3 |
| 4 | Taiwan | $4.34B | 7.1% | +33.3% | +100.1% | 6 |
| 5 | Hong Kong | $3.29B | 5.4% | +35.5% | -1.6% | 4 |
| 6 | Japan | $2.64B | 4.3% | +6.1% | +6.3% | 5 |
| 7 | Singapore | $1.75B | 2.8% | +11.6% | -10.6% | 7 |
| 8 | India | $1.68B | 2.7% | +16.1% | +6.1% | 9 |
| 9 | Australia | $1.15B | 1.9% | -4.2% | -19.6% | 10 |
| 10 | Mexico | $1.13B | 1.8% | +15.6% | +16.7% | 11 |
| 11 | Canada | $866.0M | 1.4% | +23.3% | +6.5% | 13 |
| 12 | Philippines | $814.8M | 1.3% | -3.2% | +35.7% | 17 |
| 13 | Poland | $803.4M | 1.3% | +40.3% | +56.3% | 21 |
| 14 | Malaysia | $802.6M | 1.3% | -6.2% | -13.1% | 12 |
| 15 | Liberia | $745.7M | 1.2% | -1.3% | +175.3% | 32 |
Largest changes by destination
Change in export value compared with December 2023, ranked by dollar amount.
| Country | December 2024 | December 2023 | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taiwan | $4.34B | $2.17B | +$2.17B | +100.1% |
| China | $11.77B | $10.85B | +$913.8M | +8.4% |
| United States | $11.89B | $11.28B | +$611.0M | +5.4% |
| Liberia | $745.7M | $270.9M | +$474.8M | +175.3% |
| Malta | $460.6M | $138.6M | +$322.1M | +232.4% |
| Country | December 2024 | December 2023 | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marshall Islands | $45.0M | $1.85B | -$1.80B | -97.6% |
| Australia | $1.15B | $1.44B | -$282.0M | -19.6% |
| Singapore | $1.75B | $1.95B | -$207.8M | -10.6% |
| Hungary | $308.6M | $494.6M | -$186.0M | -37.6% |
| Togo | $2.6M | $150.3M | -$147.6M | -98.2% |
Chapters
The 20 largest of 96 HS chapters by export value this month.
Compared with December 2023, the largest increases in export value by chapter were Electrical machinery and electronics (HS 85) (+$3.68 billion), Machinery, boilers and computers (HS 84) (+$335.7 million), Copper and articles thereof (HS 74) (+$177.0 million).
The largest decreases by chapter were Ships and boats (HS 89) (-$541.9 million), Mineral fuels, oils and their products (HS 27) (-$517.2 million), Ores, slag and ash (HS 26) (-$114.5 million).
Imports in December 2024 were $54.84 billion (up 3.3% from December 2023), leaving a surplus of $6.49 billion for the month.
| Code | Product | Exports | Share | vs November 2024 | vs December 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 85 | Electrical machinery and electronics | $19.87B | 32.4% | +7.9% | +22.7% |
| 87 | Vehicles, parts and accessories | $7.97B | 13.0% | +10.8% | -0.5% |
| 84 | Machinery, boilers and computers | $7.77B | 12.7% | +16.8% | +4.5% |
| 27 | Mineral fuels, oils and their products | $4.12B | 6.7% | +7.5% | -11.1% |
| 89 | Ships and boats | $2.94B | 4.8% | +22.7% | -15.6% |
| 39 | Plastics and articles thereof | $2.89B | 4.7% | +1.5% | +4.6% |
| 72 | Iron and steel | $2.07B | 3.4% | +5.5% | +0.4% |
| 29 | Organic chemicals | $1.83B | 3.0% | +17.3% | -3.4% |
| 90 | Optical, measuring and medical instruments | $1.48B | 2.4% | +5.1% | -1.5% |
| 33 | Essential oils, perfumery and cosmetics | $850.6M | 1.4% | -3.6% | +26.0% |
| 73 | Articles of iron or steel | $823.4M | 1.3% | -0.7% | +10.9% |
| 28 | Inorganic chemicals | $785.0M | 1.3% | +20.7% | -7.0% |
| 40 | Rubber and articles thereof | $637.0M | 1.0% | +2.8% | +13.6% |
| 30 | Pharmaceutical products | $611.8M | 1.0% | -23.1% | -2.9% |
| 38 | Miscellaneous chemical products | $589.9M | 1.0% | +3.8% | +6.8% |
| 74 | Copper and articles thereof | $565.7M | 0.9% | +24.2% | +45.5% |
| 76 | Aluminium and articles thereof | $481.1M | 0.8% | +11.7% | +34.3% |
| 71 | Pearls, precious stones and precious metals | $407.6M | 0.7% | +0.8% | +16.2% |
| 93 | Arms and ammunition | $282.5M | 0.5% | +29.4% | +67.8% |
| 48 | Paper and paperboard | $225.2M | 0.4% | +5.0% | +2.8% |
Largest changes by 4-digit heading
Change in export value compared with December 2023, ranked by dollar amount.
| Heading | December 2024 | December 2023 | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electronic integrated circuits (semiconductor chips) | $11.67B | $9.00B | +$2.67B | +29.6% |
| Solid-state storage devices, discs and other recording media | $1.36B | $561.4M | +$795.9M | +141.8% |
| Parts and accessories for computers and office machines | $2.41B | $1.72B | +$690.6M | +40.1% |
| Cargo ships, tankers and passenger ships | $2.04B | $1.54B | +$496.9M | +32.3% |
| Tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles | $288.4M | $49.9M | +$238.5M | +477.8% |
| Parts for display modules, televisions and broadcasting equipment | $900.1M | $681.9M | +$218.2M | +32.0% |
| Beauty, make-up and skin care preparations | $733.6M | $587.5M | +$146.2M | +24.9% |
| Military weapons (artillery, rocket launchers and others) | $126.3M | $23.1M | +$103.1M | +446.1% |
| Heading | December 2024 | December 2023 | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dredgers, floating cranes, drilling platforms and floating docks | $893.6M | $1.94B | -$1.05B | -54.0% |
| Refined petroleum oils | $3.89B | $4.42B | -$535.5M | -12.1% |
| Passenger cars | $5.83B | $6.20B | -$362.8M | -5.9% |
| Cyclic hydrocarbons | $698.2M | $857.7M | -$159.5M | -18.6% |
| Machines and mechanical appliances with individual functions | $616.3M | $768.0M | -$151.7M | -19.8% |
| Rechargeable batteries (electric accumulators) | $821.4M | $950.2M | -$128.7M | -13.5% |
| Copper ores and concentrates | $40.6M | $162.8M | -$122.2M | -75.1% |
| Salts of oxometallic or peroxometallic acids | $429.7M | $550.2M | -$120.5M | -21.9% |
Exports FOB, imports CIF, US dollars. Percentages are left blank when the earlier month was under $10,000. Figures are as downloaded on 2026-11-13; the source can revise them later. Source: Korea Customs Service, via data.go.kr.