South Korea exports: May 2025
Monthly report, generated from Korea Customs Service statistics
In May 2025, South Korea exported $57.23 billion of goods, down 1.3% from April 2025 and down 1.3% from May 2024.
The three largest destinations were China ($10.43 billion, 18.2%), the United States ($10.03 billion, 17.5%), Vietnam ($5.24 billion, 9.1%).
Compared with May 2024, the largest increases in export value by destination were Taiwan (+$1.26 billion), the Netherlands (+$289.7 million), Malaysia (+$191.9 million).
The largest decreases by destination were China (-$938.0 million), the United States (-$893.5 million), Japan (-$234.0 million).
Within the top 10 destinations, Germany moved from 13th to 10th, Taiwan moved from 6th to 4th, Hong Kong moved from 4th to 5th compared with May 2024.
Top destinations
| Rank | Country | Exports | Share | vs April 2025 | vs May 2024 | Rank a year earlier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | $10.43B | 18.2% | -3.9% | -8.3% | 1 |
| 2 | United States | $10.03B | 17.5% | -5.4% | -8.2% | 2 |
| 3 | Vietnam | $5.24B | 9.1% | +8.3% | +2.4% | 3 |
| 4 | Taiwan | $3.77B | 6.6% | +14.3% | +49.9% | 6 |
| 5 | Hong Kong | $2.86B | 5.0% | +13.5% | +5.5% | 4 |
| 6 | Japan | $2.37B | 4.1% | +2.9% | -9.0% | 5 |
| 7 | India | $1.61B | 2.8% | -5.2% | -3.8% | 8 |
| 8 | Singapore | $1.59B | 2.8% | +9.5% | -10.7% | 7 |
| 9 | Australia | $1.14B | 2.0% | -13.3% | -9.4% | 9 |
| 10 | Germany | $1.07B | 1.9% | +21.8% | +17.8% | 13 |
| 11 | Mexico | $1.07B | 1.9% | +2.2% | -9.6% | 10 |
| 12 | Malaysia | $1.03B | 1.8% | +18.2% | +23.0% | 14 |
| 13 | Canada | $959.7M | 1.7% | +8.0% | +1.8% | 12 |
| 14 | Philippines | $863.4M | 1.5% | +17.5% | -12.3% | 11 |
| 15 | Netherlands | $838.4M | 1.5% | +1.9% | +52.8% | 19 |
Largest changes by destination
Change in export value compared with May 2024, ranked by dollar amount.
| Country | May 2025 | May 2024 | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taiwan | $3.77B | $2.52B | +$1.26B | +49.9% |
| Netherlands | $838.4M | $548.7M | +$289.7M | +52.8% |
| Malaysia | $1.03B | $834.2M | +$191.9M | +23.0% |
| France | $501.0M | $330.6M | +$170.3M | +51.5% |
| Germany | $1.07B | $912.4M | +$162.5M | +17.8% |
| Country | May 2025 | May 2024 | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | $10.43B | $11.37B | -$938.0M | -8.3% |
| United States | $10.03B | $10.93B | -$893.5M | -8.2% |
| Japan | $2.37B | $2.61B | -$234.0M | -9.0% |
| Bermuda | $539K | $209.9M | -$209.4M | -99.7% |
| Singapore | $1.59B | $1.78B | -$189.5M | -10.7% |
Chapters
The 20 largest of 96 HS chapters by export value this month.
Compared with May 2024, the largest increases in export value by chapter were Electrical machinery and electronics (HS 85) (+$1.40 billion), Arms and ammunition (HS 93) (+$204.1 million), Aircraft and spacecraft (HS 88) (+$192.5 million).
The largest decreases by chapter were Mineral fuels, oils and their products (HS 27) (-$1.01 billion), Plastics and articles thereof (HS 39) (-$429.0 million), Vehicles, parts and accessories (HS 87) (-$406.9 million).
Imports in May 2025 were $50.34 billion (down 5.2% from May 2024), leaving a surplus of $6.89 billion for the month.
| Code | Product | Exports | Share | vs April 2025 | vs May 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 85 | Electrical machinery and electronics | $18.81B | 32.9% | +10.0% | +8.0% |
| 87 | Vehicles, parts and accessories | $7.68B | 13.4% | -9.6% | -5.0% |
| 84 | Machinery, boilers and computers | $6.84B | 11.9% | -2.8% | +2.9% |
| 27 | Mineral fuels, oils and their products | $3.76B | 6.6% | -2.3% | -21.1% |
| 39 | Plastics and articles thereof | $2.75B | 4.8% | -13.1% | -13.5% |
| 89 | Ships and boats | $2.12B | 3.7% | +17.5% | +5.9% |
| 72 | Iron and steel | $1.93B | 3.4% | -10.9% | -9.8% |
| 29 | Organic chemicals | $1.47B | 2.6% | -5.1% | -19.2% |
| 90 | Optical, measuring and medical instruments | $1.33B | 2.3% | -11.3% | -8.6% |
| 33 | Essential oils, perfumery and cosmetics | $924.7M | 1.6% | -6.9% | +8.8% |
| 30 | Pharmaceutical products | $766.8M | 1.3% | +0.4% | +13.1% |
| 28 | Inorganic chemicals | $766.6M | 1.3% | -0.1% | -5.8% |
| 73 | Articles of iron or steel | $738.7M | 1.3% | -19.2% | -17.8% |
| 40 | Rubber and articles thereof | $675.9M | 1.2% | -4.9% | -3.2% |
| 71 | Pearls, precious stones and precious metals | $627.8M | 1.1% | +9.8% | +17.0% |
| 74 | Copper and articles thereof | $574.0M | 1.0% | +9.9% | +7.1% |
| 38 | Miscellaneous chemical products | $570.0M | 1.0% | -17.1% | -3.7% |
| 76 | Aluminium and articles thereof | $420.4M | 0.7% | -16.6% | -0.5% |
| 88 | Aircraft and spacecraft | $316.7M | 0.6% | +19.8% | +155.1% |
| 93 | Arms and ammunition | $279.3M | 0.5% | -14.9% | +271.7% |
Largest changes by 4-digit heading
Change in export value compared with May 2024, ranked by dollar amount.
| Heading | May 2025 | May 2024 | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electronic integrated circuits (semiconductor chips) | $11.57B | $9.81B | +$1.76B | +17.9% |
| Parts and accessories for computers and office machines | $1.75B | $1.19B | +$555.8M | +46.5% |
| Cargo ships, tankers and passenger ships | $2.12B | $1.92B | +$201.0M | +10.5% |
| Aeroplanes, helicopters and spacecraft | $192.4M | $2.4M | +$190.0M | +7,790% |
| Bombs, missiles, ammunition and parts | $162.1M | $33.8M | +$128.3M | +379.1% |
| Doped chemical elements for electronics (wafers) | $214.0M | $112.1M | +$101.9M | +90.9% |
| Blood products, vaccines and immunological products | $642.1M | $560.4M | +$81.7M | +14.6% |
| Gold | $263.7M | $183.4M | +$80.3M | +43.8% |
| Heading | May 2025 | May 2024 | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Refined petroleum oils | $3.48B | $4.45B | -$965.0M | -21.7% |
| Passenger cars | $5.94B | $6.29B | -$352.5M | -5.6% |
| Flat panel display modules | $1.22B | $1.50B | -$275.3M | -18.4% |
| Cyclic hydrocarbons | $452.4M | $721.7M | -$269.3M | -37.3% |
| Machines and mechanical appliances with individual functions | $538.5M | $683.9M | -$145.4M | -21.3% |
| Rechargeable batteries (electric accumulators) | $523.8M | $642.5M | -$118.7M | -18.5% |
| Polymers of ethylene, in primary forms | $391.3M | $498.4M | -$107.2M | -21.5% |
| Salts of oxometallic or peroxometallic acids | $455.7M | $560.7M | -$105.0M | -18.7% |
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.