South Korea exports: January 2025
Monthly report, generated from Korea Customs Service statistics
In January 2025, South Korea exported $49.15 billion of goods, down 19.9% from December 2024 and down 10.1% from January 2024.
The three largest destinations were the United States ($9.28 billion, 18.9%), China ($9.19 billion, 18.7%), Vietnam ($4.36 billion, 8.9%).
Compared with January 2024, the largest increases in export value by destination were Taiwan (+$664.2 million), the Marshall Islands (+$379.8 million), France (+$204.7 million).
The largest decreases by destination were China (-$1.49 billion), Hong Kong (-$992.7 million), the United States (-$968.7 million).
Within the top 10 destinations, Malaysia moved from 14th to 10th, Taiwan moved from 6th to 4th, Hong Kong moved from 4th to 6th compared with January 2024.
Top destinations
| Rank | Country | Exports | Share | vs December 2024 | vs January 2024 | Rank a year earlier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States | $9.28B | 18.9% | -21.9% | -9.5% | 2 |
| 2 | China | $9.19B | 18.7% | -21.9% | -14.0% | 1 |
| 3 | Vietnam | $4.36B | 8.9% | -11.6% | +4.0% | 3 |
| 4 | Taiwan | $2.44B | 5.0% | -43.8% | +37.4% | 6 |
| 5 | Japan | $2.36B | 4.8% | -10.6% | -7.0% | 5 |
| 6 | Hong Kong | $1.69B | 3.4% | -48.7% | -37.1% | 4 |
| 7 | India | $1.46B | 3.0% | -13.2% | -4.8% | 8 |
| 8 | Singapore | $1.16B | 2.4% | -33.5% | -33.9% | 7 |
| 9 | Mexico | $947.2M | 1.9% | -16.4% | -14.4% | 10 |
| 10 | Malaysia | $921.1M | 1.9% | +14.8% | +18.9% | 14 |
| 11 | Australia | $909.3M | 1.8% | -21.2% | -37.5% | 9 |
| 12 | Philippines | $880.7M | 1.8% | +8.1% | +24.2% | 17 |
| 13 | Germany | $769.6M | 1.6% | +25.7% | +1.4% | 15 |
| 14 | Poland | $765.0M | 1.6% | -4.8% | +1.2% | 16 |
| 15 | Marshall Islands | $738.0M | 1.5% | +1,539% | +106.0% | 28 |
Largest changes by destination
Change in export value compared with January 2024, ranked by dollar amount.
| Country | January 2025 | January 2024 | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taiwan | $2.44B | $1.77B | +$664.2M | +37.4% |
| Marshall Islands | $738.0M | $358.2M | +$379.8M | +106.0% |
| France | $476.7M | $272.0M | +$204.7M | +75.3% |
| Philippines | $880.7M | $708.9M | +$171.8M | +24.2% |
| Vietnam | $4.36B | $4.19B | +$168.5M | +4.0% |
| Country | January 2025 | January 2024 | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | $9.19B | $10.68B | -$1.49B | -14.0% |
| Hong Kong | $1.69B | $2.68B | -$992.7M | -37.1% |
| United States | $9.28B | $10.25B | -$968.7M | -9.5% |
| Singapore | $1.16B | $1.76B | -$595.1M | -33.9% |
| Australia | $909.3M | $1.45B | -$545.4M | -37.5% |
Chapters
The 20 largest of 96 HS chapters by export value this month.
Compared with January 2024, the largest increases in export value by chapter were Aircraft and spacecraft (HS 88) (+$195.3 million), Pharmaceutical products (HS 30) (+$125.4 million), Pearls, precious stones and precious metals (HS 71) (+$35.3 million).
The largest decreases by chapter were Vehicles, parts and accessories (HS 87) (-$1.57 billion), Mineral fuels, oils and their products (HS 27) (-$1.36 billion), Electrical machinery and electronics (HS 85) (-$588.8 million).
Imports in January 2025 were $51.15 billion (down 6.1% from January 2024), leaving a deficit of $2.00 billion for the month.
| Code | Product | Exports | Share | vs December 2024 | vs January 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 85 | Electrical machinery and electronics | $14.50B | 29.5% | -27.0% | -3.9% |
| 87 | Vehicles, parts and accessories | $6.55B | 13.3% | -17.9% | -19.4% |
| 84 | Machinery, boilers and computers | $5.70B | 11.6% | -26.6% | -4.7% |
| 27 | Mineral fuels, oils and their products | $3.61B | 7.3% | -12.6% | -27.4% |
| 39 | Plastics and articles thereof | $2.63B | 5.4% | -8.8% | -13.3% |
| 89 | Ships and boats | $2.36B | 4.8% | -19.9% | -2.1% |
| 72 | Iron and steel | $1.93B | 3.9% | -6.8% | -6.6% |
| 29 | Organic chemicals | $1.62B | 3.3% | -11.5% | -13.3% |
| 90 | Optical, measuring and medical instruments | $1.13B | 2.3% | -23.6% | -18.5% |
| 73 | Articles of iron or steel | $799.9M | 1.6% | -2.9% | -1.0% |
| 33 | Essential oils, perfumery and cosmetics | $732.3M | 1.5% | -13.9% | -5.4% |
| 30 | Pharmaceutical products | $681.6M | 1.4% | +11.4% | +22.5% |
| 28 | Inorganic chemicals | $663.9M | 1.4% | -15.4% | -27.4% |
| 40 | Rubber and articles thereof | $628.4M | 1.3% | -1.4% | -2.4% |
| 38 | Miscellaneous chemical products | $527.0M | 1.1% | -10.7% | -10.2% |
| 74 | Copper and articles thereof | $423.0M | 0.9% | -25.2% | +0.1% |
| 76 | Aluminium and articles thereof | $393.0M | 0.8% | -18.3% | -6.6% |
| 71 | Pearls, precious stones and precious metals | $367.6M | 0.7% | -9.8% | +10.6% |
| 88 | Aircraft and spacecraft | $321.1M | 0.7% | +168.1% | +155.2% |
| 48 | Paper and paperboard | $208.5M | 0.4% | -7.5% | -9.8% |
Largest changes by 4-digit heading
Change in export value compared with January 2024, ranked by dollar amount.
| Heading | January 2025 | January 2024 | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parts and accessories for computers and office machines | $1.46B | $802.9M | +$661.6M | +82.4% |
| Aeroplanes, helicopters and spacecraft | $194.2M | $17.1M | +$177.1M | +1,036% |
| Solid-state storage devices, discs and other recording media | $693.0M | $549.5M | +$143.5M | +26.1% |
| Blood products, vaccines and immunological products | $591.1M | $457.5M | +$133.5M | +29.2% |
| Machines for making semiconductors and flat panel displays | $599.5M | $513.4M | +$86.1M | +16.8% |
| Doped chemical elements for electronics (wafers) | $161.8M | $85.6M | +$76.2M | +89.0% |
| Steel structures and parts (bridges, towers, frameworks) | $205.1M | $129.3M | +$75.7M | +58.6% |
| Parts for display modules, televisions and broadcasting equipment | $802.7M | $731.2M | +$71.6M | +9.8% |
| Heading | January 2025 | January 2024 | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Refined petroleum oils | $3.37B | $4.71B | -$1.34B | -28.5% |
| Passenger cars | $4.83B | $5.99B | -$1.16B | -19.3% |
| Parts and accessories of motor vehicles | $1.30B | $1.59B | -$287.8M | -18.1% |
| Salts of oxometallic or peroxometallic acids | $370.0M | $649.2M | -$279.2M | -43.0% |
| Machines and mechanical appliances with individual functions | $429.0M | $665.7M | -$236.7M | -35.6% |
| Telephones, smartphones and network equipment | $416.6M | $625.6M | -$209.0M | -33.4% |
| Flat panel display modules | $971.7M | $1.16B | -$185.3M | -16.0% |
| Cyclic hydrocarbons | $643.3M | $772.7M | -$129.4M | -16.7% |
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.