South Korea exports: August 2025
Monthly report, generated from Korea Customs Service statistics
In August 2025, South Korea exported $58.24 billion of goods, down 4.0% from July 2025 and up 1.1% from August 2024.
The three largest destinations were China ($10.98 billion, 18.9%), the United States ($8.72 billion, 15.0%), Vietnam ($5.40 billion, 9.3%).
Compared with August 2024, the largest increases in export value by destination were Taiwan (+$1.23 billion), Singapore (+$767.1 million), the Netherlands (+$379.8 million).
The largest decreases by destination were the United States (-$1.21 billion), Poland (-$350.3 million), China (-$348.1 million).
Within the top 10 destinations, Singapore moved from 8th to 7th, India moved from 7th to 8th, Malaysia moved from 11th to 10th compared with August 2024.
Top destinations
| Rank | Country | Exports | Share | vs July 2025 | vs August 2024 | Rank a year earlier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | $10.98B | 18.9% | -0.5% | -3.1% | 1 |
| 2 | United States | $8.72B | 15.0% | -15.6% | -12.2% | 2 |
| 3 | Vietnam | $5.40B | 9.3% | -2.6% | +6.9% | 3 |
| 4 | Taiwan | $4.37B | 7.5% | -6.0% | +39.0% | 4 |
| 5 | Hong Kong | $2.73B | 4.7% | +16.1% | -8.1% | 5 |
| 6 | Japan | $2.38B | 4.1% | -4.3% | -4.9% | 6 |
| 7 | Singapore | $2.16B | 3.7% | +20.5% | +54.9% | 8 |
| 8 | India | $1.59B | 2.7% | -10.7% | -2.7% | 7 |
| 9 | Australia | $1.50B | 2.6% | +24.7% | +21.3% | 9 |
| 10 | Malaysia | $1.04B | 1.8% | -0.9% | +12.7% | 11 |
| 11 | Philippines | $1.03B | 1.8% | -1.6% | +17.0% | 12 |
| 12 | Mexico | $996.7M | 1.7% | -7.3% | -8.1% | 10 |
| 13 | France | $977.5M | 1.7% | +73.2% | +22.6% | 15 |
| 14 | Netherlands | $874.8M | 1.5% | -9.7% | +76.7% | 21 |
| 15 | Canada | $782.9M | 1.3% | -2.5% | +0.1% | 16 |
Largest changes by destination
Change in export value compared with August 2024, ranked by dollar amount.
| Country | August 2025 | August 2024 | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taiwan | $4.37B | $3.15B | +$1.23B | +39.0% |
| Singapore | $2.16B | $1.40B | +$767.1M | +54.9% |
| Netherlands | $874.8M | $495.0M | +$379.8M | +76.7% |
| Vietnam | $5.40B | $5.05B | +$348.8M | +6.9% |
| Australia | $1.50B | $1.24B | +$263.5M | +21.3% |
| Country | August 2025 | August 2024 | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $8.72B | $9.93B | -$1.21B | -12.2% |
| Poland | $487.2M | $837.5M | -$350.3M | -41.8% |
| China | $10.98B | $11.33B | -$348.1M | -3.1% |
| Malta | $9.9M | $267.5M | -$257.6M | -96.3% |
| Hungary | $211.6M | $464.1M | -$252.5M | -54.4% |
Chapters
The 20 largest of 96 HS chapters by export value this month.
Compared with August 2024, the largest increases in export value by chapter were Electrical machinery and electronics (HS 85) (+$1.72 billion), Vehicles, parts and accessories (HS 87) (+$284.9 million), Ships and boats (HS 89) (+$243.7 million).
The largest decreases by chapter were Organic chemicals (HS 29) (-$397.7 million), Mineral fuels, oils and their products (HS 27) (-$343.7 million), Iron and steel (HS 72) (-$309.7 million).
Imports in August 2025 were $51.84 billion (down 4.1% from August 2024), leaving a surplus of $6.40 billion for the month.
Largest changes by 4-digit heading
Change in export value compared with August 2024, ranked by dollar amount.
| Heading | August 2025 | August 2024 | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electronic integrated circuits (semiconductor chips) | $12.62B | $10.13B | +$2.48B | +24.5% |
| Parts and accessories for computers and office machines | $2.03B | $1.30B | +$728.0M | +55.8% |
| Passenger cars | $5.21B | $4.88B | +$336.7M | +6.9% |
| Cargo ships, tankers and passenger ships | $2.94B | $2.70B | +$244.9M | +9.1% |
| Gold | $276.7M | $145.3M | +$131.4M | +90.4% |
| Motor vehicles for the transport of goods | $236.8M | $136.0M | +$100.8M | +74.1% |
| Bulldozers, excavators and other earth-moving machinery | $228.3M | $147.5M | +$80.7M | +54.7% |
| Insulated wire and cable | $376.5M | $301.3M | +$75.2M | +25.0% |
| Heading | August 2025 | August 2024 | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cyclic hydrocarbons | $579.8M | $869.8M | -$289.9M | -33.3% |
| Refined petroleum oils | $4.08B | $4.33B | -$252.1M | -5.8% |
| Rechargeable batteries (electric accumulators) | $485.2M | $706.4M | -$221.2M | -31.3% |
| Solid-state storage devices, discs and other recording media | $1.10B | $1.32B | -$219.0M | -16.6% |
| Machines and mechanical appliances with individual functions | $348.6M | $567.0M | -$218.4M | -38.5% |
| Goldsmiths' and silversmiths' wares | $12.8M | $195.9M | -$183.2M | -93.5% |
| Flat panel display modules | $1.52B | $1.67B | -$151.0M | -9.0% |
| Gas turbines and turbo-jets | $115.0M | $265.5M | -$150.5M | -56.7% |
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.