South Korea exports: January 2026
Monthly report, generated from Korea Customs Service statistics
In January 2026, South Korea exported $65.82 billion of goods, down 5.3% from December 2025 and up 33.9% from January 2025.
The three largest destinations were China ($13.52 billion, 20.5%), the United States ($12.00 billion, 18.2%), Vietnam ($6.45 billion, 9.8%).
Compared with January 2025, the largest increases in export value by destination were China (+$4.33 billion), the United States (+$2.72 billion), Hong Kong (+$2.64 billion).
The largest decreases by destination were the Marshall Islands (-$443.0 million), Denmark (-$187.5 million), Poland (-$169.5 million).
Within the top 10 destinations, the Philippines moved from 12th to 9th, Hong Kong moved from 6th to 4th, China moved from 2nd to 1st compared with January 2025.
Top destinations
| Rank | Country | Exports | Share | vs December 2025 | vs January 2025 | Rank a year earlier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | $13.52B | 20.5% | +4.4% | +47.1% | 2 |
| 2 | United States | $12.00B | 18.2% | -2.7% | +29.3% | 1 |
| 3 | Vietnam | $6.45B | 9.8% | +2.7% | +48.1% | 3 |
| 4 | Hong Kong | $4.33B | 6.6% | -6.4% | +156.8% | 6 |
| 5 | Taiwan | $3.96B | 6.0% | -22.8% | +62.4% | 4 |
| 6 | Japan | $2.24B | 3.4% | -8.6% | -5.0% | 5 |
| 7 | Singapore | $1.70B | 2.6% | -17.7% | +46.5% | 8 |
| 8 | India | $1.68B | 2.6% | -2.0% | +15.2% | 7 |
| 9 | Philippines | $1.34B | 2.0% | +11.0% | +51.8% | 12 |
| 10 | Australia | $1.23B | 1.9% | -12.0% | +35.6% | 11 |
| 11 | Canada | $1.07B | 1.6% | +13.6% | +45.3% | 16 |
| 12 | Mexico | $1.02B | 1.6% | -2.8% | +7.8% | 9 |
| 13 | Malaysia | $976.3M | 1.5% | -30.6% | +6.0% | 10 |
| 14 | Thailand | $869.7M | 1.3% | +28.9% | +39.4% | 18 |
| 15 | Germany | $791.1M | 1.2% | +17.3% | +2.8% | 13 |
Largest changes by destination
Change in export value compared with January 2025, ranked by dollar amount.
| Country | January 2026 | January 2025 | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | $13.52B | $9.19B | +$4.33B | +47.1% |
| United States | $12.00B | $9.28B | +$2.72B | +29.3% |
| Hong Kong | $4.33B | $1.69B | +$2.64B | +156.8% |
| Vietnam | $6.45B | $4.36B | +$2.10B | +48.1% |
| Taiwan | $3.96B | $2.44B | +$1.52B | +62.4% |
| Country | January 2026 | January 2025 | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marshall Islands | $295.0M | $738.0M | -$443.0M | -60.0% |
| Denmark | $65.9M | $253.4M | -$187.5M | -74.0% |
| Poland | $595.6M | $765.0M | -$169.5M | -22.2% |
| Malta | $13.2M | $181.2M | -$168.0M | -92.7% |
| Japan | $2.24B | $2.36B | -$119.3M | -5.0% |
Chapters
The 20 largest of 96 HS chapters by export value this month.
Compared with January 2025, the largest increases in export value by chapter were Electrical machinery and electronics (HS 85) (+$10.54 billion), Machinery, boilers and computers (HS 84) (+$2.57 billion), Vehicles, parts and accessories (HS 87) (+$1.02 billion).
The largest decreases by chapter were Aircraft and spacecraft (HS 88) (-$79.0 million), Ships and boats (HS 89) (-$42.4 million), Animal or vegetable fats and oils (HS 15) (-$27.9 million).
Imports in January 2026 were $57.23 billion (up 11.9% from January 2025), leaving a surplus of $8.59 billion for the month.
Largest changes by 4-digit heading
Change in export value compared with January 2025, ranked by dollar amount.
| Heading | January 2026 | January 2025 | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electronic integrated circuits (semiconductor chips) | $16.40B | $8.27B | +$8.13B | +98.4% |
| Parts and accessories for computers and office machines | $3.67B | $1.46B | +$2.20B | +150.5% |
| Passenger cars | $5.74B | $4.83B | +$914.6M | +18.9% |
| Solid-state storage devices, discs and other recording media | $1.43B | $693.0M | +$739.3M | +106.7% |
| Telephones, smartphones and network equipment | $1.10B | $416.6M | +$687.6M | +165.1% |
| Refined petroleum oils | $3.68B | $3.37B | +$312.5M | +9.3% |
| Gold | $385.2M | $75.9M | +$309.2M | +407.3% |
| Flat panel display modules | $1.21B | $971.7M | +$239.5M | +24.6% |
| Heading | January 2026 | January 2025 | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dredgers, floating cranes, drilling platforms and floating docks | $55K | $341.5M | -$341.5M | -100.0% |
| Steel structures and parts (bridges, towers, frameworks) | $61.5M | $205.1M | -$143.5M | -70.0% |
| Tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles | $32.9M | $175.4M | -$142.5M | -81.3% |
| Machines and mechanical appliances with individual functions | $323.5M | $429.0M | -$105.4M | -24.6% |
| Aeroplanes, helicopters and spacecraft | $97.1M | $194.2M | -$97.1M | -50.0% |
| Military weapons (artillery, rocket launchers and others) | $6.5M | $94.2M | -$87.7M | -93.1% |
| Lifts, escalators, conveyors and other handling machinery | $47.1M | $120.6M | -$73.4M | -60.9% |
| Acyclic hydrocarbons | $238.4M | $301.0M | -$62.6M | -20.8% |
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.