South Korea exports: May 2026
Monthly report, generated from Korea Customs Service statistics
In May 2026, South Korea exported $87.50 billion of goods, up 2.1% from April 2026 and up 52.9% from May 2025.
The three largest destinations were China ($18.87 billion, 21.6%), the United States ($15.99 billion, 18.3%), Vietnam ($8.44 billion, 9.6%).
Compared with May 2025, the largest increases in export value by destination were China (+$8.44 billion), the United States (+$5.95 billion), Hong Kong (+$3.61 billion).
The largest decreases by destination were Germany (-$258.8 million), France (-$224.3 million), Denmark (-$206.6 million).
Within the top 10 destinations, the Philippines moved from 14th to 10th, India moved from 7th to 9th, Singapore moved from 8th to 7th compared with May 2025.
Top destinations
| Rank | Country | Exports | Share | vs April 2026 | vs May 2025 | Rank a year earlier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | $18.87B | 21.6% | +6.9% | +80.9% | 1 |
| 2 | United States | $15.99B | 18.3% | -2.2% | +59.3% | 2 |
| 3 | Vietnam | $8.44B | 9.6% | +6.9% | +61.3% | 3 |
| 4 | Taiwan | $6.66B | 7.6% | +19.8% | +76.6% | 4 |
| 5 | Hong Kong | $6.47B | 7.4% | +16.7% | +126.5% | 5 |
| 6 | Japan | $2.63B | 3.0% | -11.6% | +11.0% | 6 |
| 7 | Singapore | $2.30B | 2.6% | +5.0% | +45.2% | 8 |
| 8 | Australia | $2.09B | 2.4% | -5.3% | +83.7% | 9 |
| 9 | India | $1.95B | 2.2% | -19.1% | +21.2% | 7 |
| 10 | Philippines | $1.70B | 1.9% | +6.6% | +96.9% | 14 |
| 11 | Mexico | $1.53B | 1.8% | +13.6% | +43.6% | 11 |
| 12 | Malaysia | $1.46B | 1.7% | -4.9% | +42.4% | 12 |
| 13 | Netherlands | $1.28B | 1.5% | +21.5% | +52.8% | 15 |
| 14 | Canada | $1.12B | 1.3% | -2.0% | +16.9% | 13 |
| 15 | Indonesia | $912.1M | 1.0% | +1.5% | +60.7% | 20 |
Largest changes by destination
Change in export value compared with May 2025, ranked by dollar amount.
| Country | May 2026 | May 2025 | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | $18.87B | $10.43B | +$8.44B | +80.9% |
| United States | $15.99B | $10.03B | +$5.95B | +59.3% |
| Hong Kong | $6.47B | $2.86B | +$3.61B | +126.5% |
| Vietnam | $8.44B | $5.24B | +$3.21B | +61.3% |
| Taiwan | $6.66B | $3.77B | +$2.89B | +76.6% |
Chapters
The 20 largest of 96 HS chapters by export value this month.
Compared with May 2025, the largest increases in export value by chapter were Electrical machinery and electronics (HS 85) (+$21.40 billion), Machinery, boilers and computers (HS 84) (+$5.23 billion), Mineral fuels, oils and their products (HS 27) (+$1.52 billion).
The largest decreases by chapter were Vehicles, parts and accessories (HS 87) (-$452.3 million), Aircraft and spacecraft (HS 88) (-$176.7 million), Arms and ammunition (HS 93) (-$154.7 million).
Imports in May 2026 were $60.74 billion (up 20.7% from May 2025), leaving a surplus of $26.76 billion for the month.
Largest changes by 4-digit heading
Change in export value compared with May 2025, ranked by dollar amount.
| Heading | May 2026 | May 2025 | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electronic integrated circuits (semiconductor chips) | $29.43B | $11.57B | +$17.86B | +154.3% |
| Parts and accessories for computers and office machines | $7.24B | $1.75B | +$5.49B | +313.8% |
| Solid-state storage devices, discs and other recording media | $4.04B | $966.1M | +$3.07B | +318.3% |
| Refined petroleum oils | $5.11B | $3.48B | +$1.63B | +46.7% |
| Gold | $1.01B | $263.7M | +$746.5M | +283.0% |
| Cargo ships, tankers and passenger ships | $2.45B | $2.12B | +$330.6M | +15.6% |
| Silver | $463.9M | $204.1M | +$259.8M | +127.3% |
| Refined copper and copper alloys, unwrought | $378.0M | $172.3M | +$205.8M | +119.4% |
| Heading | May 2026 | May 2025 | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger cars | $5.48B | $5.94B | -$459.1M | -7.7% |
| Aeroplanes, helicopters and spacecraft | $11.7M | $192.4M | -$180.7M | -93.9% |
| Flat-rolled iron or non-alloy steel, hot-rolled | $360.7M | $466.5M | -$105.8M | -22.7% |
| Parts and accessories of motor vehicles | $1.31B | $1.40B | -$97.3M | -6.9% |
| Military weapons (artillery, rocket launchers and others) | $18.4M | $107.4M | -$89.0M | -82.9% |
| Lifts, escalators, conveyors and other handling machinery | $76.1M | $162.0M | -$85.9M | -53.0% |
| Flat-rolled iron or non-alloy steel, coated or plated | $433.9M | $516.1M | -$82.2M | -15.9% |
| Refrigerators, freezers and heat pumps | $121.5M | $203.6M | -$82.0M | -40.3% |
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.