South Korea exports: October 2026
Monthly report, generated from Korea Customs Service statistics
In October 2026, South Korea exported $115.38 billion of goods, down 4.8% from September 2026 and up 93.9% from October 2025.
The three largest destinations were China ($27.00 billion, 23.4%), the United States ($24.99 billion, 21.7%), Taiwan ($8.77 billion, 7.6%).
Compared with October 2025, the largest increases in export value by destination were the United States (+$16.28 billion), China (+$15.45 billion), Taiwan (+$3.61 billion).
The largest decreases by destination were Brazil (-$2.29 billion), Kyrgyzstan (-$296.8 million), Liberia (-$277.6 million).
Within the top 10 destinations, Malaysia moved from 16th to 8th, the Philippines moved from 13th to 7th, Singapore moved from 8th to 6th compared with October 2025.
Top destinations
| Rank | Country | Exports | Share | vs September 2026 | vs October 2025 | Rank a year earlier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | $27.00B | 23.4% | +3.7% | +133.9% | 1 |
| 2 | United States | $24.99B | 21.7% | +2.8% | +186.9% | 2 |
| 3 | Taiwan | $8.77B | 7.6% | -14.3% | +70.0% | 3 |
| 4 | Vietnam | $8.35B | 7.2% | -2.2% | +63.6% | 4 |
| 5 | Hong Kong | $6.44B | 5.6% | -39.4% | +110.0% | 5 |
| 6 | Singapore | $3.83B | 3.3% | +0.7% | +158.5% | 8 |
| 7 | Philippines | $3.81B | 3.3% | -3.9% | +390.0% | 13 |
| 8 | Malaysia | $3.47B | 3.0% | +8.8% | +390.5% | 16 |
| 9 | Japan | $3.19B | 2.8% | -0.4% | +44.0% | 7 |
| 10 | India | $2.72B | 2.4% | +5.4% | +83.9% | 9 |
| 11 | Australia | $2.39B | 2.1% | -12.2% | +88.9% | 10 |
| 12 | Netherlands | $1.60B | 1.4% | -22.7% | +92.5% | 12 |
| 13 | Mexico | $1.35B | 1.2% | -8.1% | +42.4% | 11 |
| 14 | Poland | $1.31B | 1.1% | +23.4% | +147.2% | 20 |
| 15 | Canada | $998.9M | 0.9% | -12.6% | +33.0% | 14 |
Largest changes by destination
Change in export value compared with October 2025, ranked by dollar amount.
| Country | October 2026 | October 2025 | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $24.99B | $8.71B | +$16.28B | +186.9% |
| China | $27.00B | $11.54B | +$15.45B | +133.9% |
| Taiwan | $8.77B | $5.16B | +$3.61B | +70.0% |
| Hong Kong | $6.44B | $3.06B | +$3.37B | +110.0% |
| Vietnam | $8.35B | $5.10B | +$3.24B | +63.6% |
| Country | October 2026 | October 2025 | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brazil | $569.9M | $2.86B | -$2.29B | -80.1% |
| Kyrgyzstan | $164.8M | $461.5M | -$296.8M | -64.3% |
| Liberia | $121.6M | $399.2M | -$277.6M | -69.5% |
| Bermuda | $870K | $211.2M | -$210.4M | -99.6% |
| Iraq | $71.2M | $178.3M | -$107.1M | -60.1% |
Chapters
The 20 largest of 96 HS chapters by export value this month.
Compared with October 2025, the largest increases in export value by chapter were Electrical machinery and electronics (HS 85) (+$33.74 billion), Machinery, boilers and computers (HS 84) (+$15.19 billion), Mineral fuels, oils and their products (HS 27) (+$3.33 billion).
The largest decreases by chapter were Ships and boats (HS 89) (-$2.12 billion), Pearls, precious stones and precious metals (HS 71) (-$75.0 million), Animal or vegetable fats and oils (HS 15) (-$38.2 million).
Imports in October 2026 were $72.73 billion (up 35.9% from October 2025), leaving a surplus of $42.65 billion for the month.
| Code | Product | Exports | Share | vs September 2026 | vs October 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 85 | Electrical machinery and electronics | $54.54B | 47.3% | -6.7% | +162.3% |
| 84 | Machinery, boilers and computers | $21.50B | 18.6% | -3.3% | +240.8% |
| 87 | Vehicles, parts and accessories | $8.09B | 7.0% | +3.1% | +17.1% |
| 27 | Mineral fuels, oils and their products | $7.26B | 6.3% | -6.3% | +84.7% |
| 39 | Plastics and articles thereof | $3.12B | 2.7% | +1.5% | +24.9% |
| 89 | Ships and boats | $2.46B | 2.1% | -30.4% | -46.3% |
| 72 | Iron and steel | $2.03B | 1.8% | +0.3% | +14.3% |
| 29 | Organic chemicals | $1.77B | 1.5% | -0.5% | +23.5% |
| 90 | Optical, measuring and medical instruments | $1.51B | 1.3% | -4.2% | +18.6% |
| 33 | Essential oils, perfumery and cosmetics | $1.37B | 1.2% | -5.4% | +55.4% |
| 28 | Inorganic chemicals | $1.01B | 0.9% | +0.9% | +54.4% |
| 71 | Pearls, precious stones and precious metals | $879.1M | 0.8% | +3.7% | -7.9% |
| 74 | Copper and articles thereof | $876.8M | 0.8% | -9.6% | +53.7% |
| 30 | Pharmaceutical products | $855.9M | 0.7% | +5.7% | +31.8% |
| 73 | Articles of iron or steel | $849.3M | 0.7% | +5.0% | +50.8% |
| 38 | Miscellaneous chemical products | $708.2M | 0.6% | -2.6% | +18.2% |
| 40 | Rubber and articles thereof | $668.1M | 0.6% | -0.7% | +29.8% |
| 93 | Arms and ammunition | $547.0M | 0.5% | +23.0% | +220.5% |
| 76 | Aluminium and articles thereof | $423.1M | 0.4% | -11.8% | +7.0% |
| 88 | Aircraft and spacecraft | $326.5M | 0.3% | +35.0% | +15.0% |
Largest changes by 4-digit heading
Change in export value compared with October 2025, ranked by dollar amount.
| Heading | October 2026 | October 2025 | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electronic integrated circuits (semiconductor chips) | $40.02B | $13.18B | +$26.85B | +203.7% |
| Parts and accessories for computers and office machines | $15.88B | $2.04B | +$13.84B | +678.3% |
| Solid-state storage devices, discs and other recording media | $5.71B | $889.8M | +$4.82B | +542.2% |
| Refined petroleum oils | $6.93B | $3.77B | +$3.16B | +84.0% |
| Passenger cars | $6.10B | $5.25B | +$855.5M | +16.3% |
| Machines for making semiconductors and flat panel displays | $1.17B | $699.1M | +$472.9M | +67.6% |
| Beauty, make-up and skin care preparations | $1.15B | $753.3M | +$401.6M | +53.3% |
| Flat panel display modules | $1.75B | $1.36B | +$388.2M | +28.6% |
| Heading | October 2026 | October 2025 | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dredgers, floating cranes, drilling platforms and floating docks | $3,356 | $2.47B | -$2.47B | -100.0% |
| Goldsmiths' and silversmiths' wares | $17.4M | $257.8M | -$240.4M | -93.3% |
| Gold | $133.5M | $336.5M | -$203.0M | -60.3% |
| Aluminium plates, sheets and strip | $129.5M | $217.0M | -$87.5M | -40.3% |
| Parts for display modules, televisions and broadcasting equipment | $1.16B | $1.20B | -$41.9M | -3.5% |
| Chemically modified fats and oils, and inedible mixtures | $5.2M | $43.1M | -$37.9M | -87.9% |
| Flat-rolled iron or non-alloy steel, coated or plated | $464.6M | $497.3M | -$32.6M | -6.6% |
| Optical fibres, polarising sheets and lenses | $166.0M | $190.5M | -$24.5M | -12.9% |
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.