South Korea exports: September 2025
Monthly report, generated from Korea Customs Service statistics
In September 2025, South Korea exported $65.87 billion of goods, up 13.1% from August 2025 and up 12.6% from September 2024.
The three largest destinations were China ($11.67 billion, 17.7%), the United States ($10.26 billion, 15.6%), Vietnam ($5.93 billion, 9.0%).
Compared with September 2024, the largest increases in export value by destination were Taiwan (+$1.49 billion), Vietnam (+$944.9 million), Hong Kong (+$391.5 million).
The largest decreases by destination were the Marshall Islands (-$242.6 million), the United States (-$148.8 million), Portugal (-$136.1 million).
Within the top 10 destinations, Australia moved from 8th to 10th, Singapore moved from 9th to 8th, Poland moved from 10th to 9th compared with September 2024.
Top destinations
| Rank | Country | Exports | Share | vs August 2025 | vs September 2024 | Rank a year earlier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | $11.67B | 17.7% | +6.2% | +0.4% | 1 |
| 2 | United States | $10.26B | 15.6% | +17.7% | -1.4% | 2 |
| 3 | Vietnam | $5.93B | 9.0% | +9.8% | +19.0% | 3 |
| 4 | Taiwan | $5.21B | 7.9% | +19.1% | +40.0% | 4 |
| 5 | Hong Kong | $3.50B | 5.3% | +28.2% | +12.6% | 5 |
| 6 | Japan | $2.56B | 3.9% | +7.7% | +3.3% | 6 |
| 7 | India | $1.72B | 2.6% | +8.2% | +17.3% | 7 |
| 8 | Singapore | $1.51B | 2.3% | -30.2% | +16.4% | 9 |
| 9 | Poland | $1.42B | 2.2% | +192.4% | +31.4% | 10 |
| 10 | Australia | $1.34B | 2.0% | -10.4% | -4.1% | 8 |
| 11 | Philippines | $1.17B | 1.8% | +13.6% | +18.8% | 12 |
| 12 | Mexico | $1.14B | 1.7% | +14.0% | +9.5% | 11 |
| 13 | Malaysia | $1.02B | 1.6% | -1.4% | +24.7% | 13 |
| 14 | Türkiye | $1.00B | 1.5% | +42.7% | +49.8% | 17 |
| 15 | Netherlands | $958.2M | 1.5% | +9.5% | +55.6% | 19 |
Largest changes by destination
Change in export value compared with September 2024, ranked by dollar amount.
| Country | September 2025 | September 2024 | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taiwan | $5.21B | $3.72B | +$1.49B | +40.0% |
| Vietnam | $5.93B | $4.98B | +$944.9M | +19.0% |
| Hong Kong | $3.50B | $3.11B | +$391.5M | +12.6% |
| Netherlands | $958.2M | $615.8M | +$342.4M | +55.6% |
| Poland | $1.42B | $1.08B | +$340.0M | +31.4% |
| Country | September 2025 | September 2024 | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marshall Islands | $480.2M | $722.8M | -$242.6M | -33.6% |
| United States | $10.26B | $10.41B | -$148.8M | -1.4% |
| Portugal | $66.7M | $202.8M | -$136.1M | -67.1% |
| Hungary | $290.8M | $355.5M | -$64.7M | -18.2% |
| Australia | $1.34B | $1.40B | -$57.1M | -4.1% |
Chapters
The 20 largest of 96 HS chapters by export value this month.
Compared with September 2024, the largest increases in export value by chapter were Electrical machinery and electronics (HS 85) (+$2.34 billion), Machinery, boilers and computers (HS 84) (+$1.18 billion), Vehicles, parts and accessories (HS 87) (+$1.12 billion).
The largest decreases by chapter were Iron and steel (HS 72) (-$60.3 million), Articles of iron or steel (HS 73) (-$53.3 million), Ores, slag and ash (HS 26) (-$34.7 million).
Imports in September 2025 were $56.40 billion (up 8.3% from September 2024), leaving a surplus of $9.47 billion for the month.
| Code | Product | Exports | Share | vs August 2025 | vs September 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 85 | Electrical machinery and electronics | $22.34B | 33.9% | +9.2% | +11.7% |
| 87 | Vehicles, parts and accessories | $8.46B | 12.8% | +20.9% | +15.2% |
| 84 | Machinery, boilers and computers | $7.81B | 11.8% | +20.8% | +17.8% |
| 27 | Mineral fuels, oils and their products | $4.32B | 6.6% | +1.5% | +3.8% |
| 39 | Plastics and articles thereof | $3.10B | 4.7% | +14.5% | +8.9% |
| 89 | Ships and boats | $2.72B | 4.1% | -7.4% | +23.8% |
| 72 | Iron and steel | $2.01B | 3.1% | +9.5% | -2.9% |
| 29 | Organic chemicals | $1.70B | 2.6% | +9.5% | -1.8% |
| 90 | Optical, measuring and medical instruments | $1.60B | 2.4% | +20.6% | +9.0% |
| 33 | Essential oils, perfumery and cosmetics | $1.10B | 1.7% | +32.1% | +24.9% |
| 30 | Pharmaceutical products | $933.4M | 1.4% | +43.6% | +35.7% |
| 28 | Inorganic chemicals | $757.8M | 1.2% | +11.5% | +8.6% |
| 73 | Articles of iron or steel | $736.5M | 1.1% | +16.0% | -6.8% |
| 38 | Miscellaneous chemical products | $717.7M | 1.1% | +3.8% | +25.9% |
| 93 | Arms and ammunition | $624.9M | 0.9% | +437.8% | +36.3% |
| 74 | Copper and articles thereof | $602.0M | 0.9% | +7.7% | +21.1% |
| 40 | Rubber and articles thereof | $597.7M | 0.9% | +9.3% | +0.7% |
| 71 | Pearls, precious stones and precious metals | $557.6M | 0.8% | -16.8% | +15.7% |
| 76 | Aluminium and articles thereof | $477.3M | 0.7% | +13.0% | +21.0% |
| 88 | Aircraft and spacecraft | $270.2M | 0.4% | +17.1% | +160.2% |
Largest changes by 4-digit heading
Change in export value compared with September 2024, ranked by dollar amount.
| Heading | September 2025 | September 2024 | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electronic integrated circuits (semiconductor chips) | $13.62B | $11.33B | +$2.30B | +20.3% |
| Passenger cars | $6.04B | $5.30B | +$740.2M | +14.0% |
| Parts and accessories for computers and office machines | $2.50B | $1.83B | +$668.3M | +36.5% |
| Cargo ships, tankers and passenger ships | $2.47B | $2.20B | +$276.9M | +12.6% |
| Other vessels, including warships and lifeboats other than rowing boats | $245.5M | $122K | +$245.4M | +201,179% |
| Blood products, vaccines and immunological products | $786.6M | $569.5M | +$217.1M | +38.1% |
| Military weapons (artillery, rocket launchers and others) | $345.3M | $150.2M | +$195.0M | +129.8% |
| Refined petroleum oils | $4.13B | $3.96B | +$168.1M | +4.2% |
| Heading | September 2025 | September 2024 | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solid-state storage devices, discs and other recording media | $1.16B | $1.37B | -$206.7M | -15.1% |
| Parts for display modules, televisions and broadcasting equipment | $1.04B | $1.25B | -$206.4M | -16.6% |
| Steel structures and parts (bridges, towers, frameworks) | $84.3M | $185.9M | -$101.7M | -54.7% |
| Bombs, missiles, ammunition and parts | $191.0M | $267.6M | -$76.6M | -28.6% |
| Rechargeable batteries (electric accumulators) | $634.6M | $696.0M | -$61.4M | -8.8% |
| Flat-rolled iron or non-alloy steel, coated or plated | $465.0M | $521.2M | -$56.2M | -10.8% |
| Cyclic hydrocarbons | $619.1M | $664.7M | -$45.6M | -6.9% |
| Coal tar distillation oils (benzene, toluene, xylene) | $94.6M | $139.2M | -$44.5M | -32.0% |
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.