South Korea exports: April 2026
Monthly report, generated from Korea Customs Service statistics
In April 2026, South Korea exported $85.70 billion of goods, down 1.9% from March 2026 and up 47.7% from April 2025.
The three largest destinations were China ($17.66 billion, 20.6%), the United States ($16.35 billion, 19.1%), Vietnam ($7.90 billion, 9.2%).
Compared with April 2025, the largest increases in export value by destination were China (+$6.80 billion), the United States (+$5.75 billion), Vietnam (+$3.06 billion).
The largest decreases by destination were the United Arab Emirates (-$262.0 million), Poland (-$161.9 million), Malta (-$138.5 million).
Within the top 10 destinations, the Philippines moved from 17th to 10th, Australia moved from 9th to 8th, Singapore moved from 8th to 9th compared with April 2025.
Top destinations
| Rank | Country | Exports | Share | vs March 2026 | vs April 2025 | Rank a year earlier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | $17.66B | 20.6% | +5.7% | +62.6% | 1 |
| 2 | United States | $16.35B | 19.1% | -0.4% | +54.2% | 2 |
| 3 | Vietnam | $7.90B | 9.2% | +10.7% | +63.3% | 3 |
| 4 | Taiwan | $5.56B | 6.5% | -12.0% | +68.4% | 4 |
| 5 | Hong Kong | $5.54B | 6.5% | -29.5% | +120.3% | 5 |
| 6 | Japan | $2.98B | 3.5% | +2.1% | +29.3% | 6 |
| 7 | India | $2.42B | 2.8% | +23.1% | +42.1% | 7 |
| 8 | Australia | $2.21B | 2.6% | -22.0% | +68.2% | 9 |
| 9 | Singapore | $2.19B | 2.6% | +5.7% | +51.4% | 8 |
| 10 | Philippines | $1.60B | 1.9% | -7.2% | +117.0% | 17 |
| 11 | Malaysia | $1.54B | 1.8% | +7.6% | +76.8% | 14 |
| 12 | Mexico | $1.35B | 1.6% | -10.3% | +29.1% | 10 |
| 13 | Canada | $1.15B | 1.3% | +1.9% | +28.9% | 12 |
| 14 | Thailand | $1.06B | 1.2% | +16.0% | +52.9% | 19 |
| 15 | Netherlands | $1.05B | 1.2% | -28.0% | +28.1% | 16 |
Largest changes by destination
Change in export value compared with April 2025, ranked by dollar amount.
| Country | April 2026 | April 2025 | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | $17.66B | $10.86B | +$6.80B | +62.6% |
| United States | $16.35B | $10.60B | +$5.75B | +54.2% |
| Vietnam | $7.90B | $4.84B | +$3.06B | +63.3% |
| Hong Kong | $5.54B | $2.52B | +$3.03B | +120.3% |
| Taiwan | $5.56B | $3.30B | +$2.26B | +68.4% |
| Country | April 2026 | April 2025 | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Arab Emirates | $231.7M | $493.8M | -$262.0M | -53.1% |
| Poland | $795.6M | $957.5M | -$161.9M | -16.9% |
| Malta | $277.7M | $416.2M | -$138.5M | -33.3% |
| Belgium | $351.4M | $447.9M | -$96.5M | -21.5% |
| Saudi Arabia | $282.2M | $372.2M | -$90.0M | -24.2% |
Chapters
The 20 largest of 96 HS chapters by export value this month.
Compared with April 2025, the largest increases in export value by chapter were Electrical machinery and electronics (HS 85) (+$19.10 billion), Machinery, boilers and computers (HS 84) (+$4.58 billion), Mineral fuels, oils and their products (HS 27) (+$1.31 billion).
The largest decreases by chapter were Vehicles, parts and accessories (HS 87) (-$638.6 million), Iron and steel (HS 72) (-$224.7 million), Articles of iron or steel (HS 73) (-$154.2 million).
Imports in April 2026 were $62.14 billion (up 16.8% from April 2025), leaving a surplus of $23.56 billion for the month.
Largest changes by 4-digit heading
Change in export value compared with April 2025, ranked by dollar amount.
| Heading | April 2026 | April 2025 | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electronic integrated circuits (semiconductor chips) | $25.24B | $9.78B | +$15.46B | +158.2% |
| Parts and accessories for computers and office machines | $6.20B | $1.42B | +$4.78B | +336.1% |
| Solid-state storage devices, discs and other recording media | $3.92B | $522.3M | +$3.39B | +649.9% |
| Refined petroleum oils | $4.96B | $3.57B | +$1.39B | +39.1% |
| Cargo ships, tankers and passenger ships | $2.61B | $1.59B | +$1.02B | +64.0% |
| Silver | $570.6M | $179.0M | +$391.6M | +218.8% |
| Gold | $589.5M | $237.9M | +$351.6M | +147.8% |
| Beauty, make-up and skin care preparations | $1.09B | $849.7M | +$244.9M | +28.8% |
| Heading | April 2026 | April 2025 | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger cars | $5.84B | $6.30B | -$456.7M | -7.3% |
| Bombs, missiles, ammunition and parts | $17.4M | $232.7M | -$215.3M | -92.5% |
| Dredgers, floating cranes, drilling platforms and floating docks | $8.5M | $204.6M | -$196.0M | -95.8% |
| Tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles | $11.0M | $171.8M | -$160.8M | -93.6% |
| Parts and accessories of motor vehicles | $1.59B | $1.71B | -$119.4M | -7.0% |
| Machinery for treating materials by a change of temperature | $158.5M | $272.0M | -$113.5M | -41.7% |
| Gas turbines and turbo-jets | $122.7M | $230.3M | -$107.6M | -46.7% |
| Steel structures and parts (bridges, towers, frameworks) | $76.4M | $183.6M | -$107.2M | -58.4% |
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.