Optical, measuring and medical instruments: South Korea exports to Italy
HS chapter 90 · 광학기기ㆍ사진용 기기ㆍ영화용 기기ㆍ측정기기ㆍ검사기기ㆍ정밀기기ㆍ의료용 기기, 이들의 부분품과 부속품 · latest month: October 2026
In October 2026, South Korea exported $12.5 million of optical, measuring and medical instruments (HS 90) to Italy, up 18.3% from September 2026 and up 35.9% from October 2025.
Over the 12 months to October 2026, exports of optical, measuring and medical instruments (HS 90) to Italy totalled $133.8 million, up 12.4% from the 12 months before ($119.0 million).
Italy took 0.8% of South Korea's exports of this product over the 12 months to October 2026, ranking 26th of 217 destinations (24th in the 12 months before).
This product made up 2.7% of South Korea's goods exports to Italy over the same period.
The average export value in October 2026 was $265.94 per kg of net weight, compared with $158.84 per kg in October 2025.
Imports from Italy in October 2026 were $21.3 million (down 42.6% from October 2025), leaving a deficit of $8.8 million for the month.
Last 24 months
Monthly figures
| Month | Exports | vs year earlier | Export weight | Export $/kg | Imports | Import weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | $12.5M | +35.9% | 46.9 t | $265.94 | $21.3M | 79.1 t |
| September 2026 | $10.5M | +3.2% | 46.7 t | $225.39 | $22.5M | 82.6 t |
| August 2026 | $12.7M | +48.1% | 45.5 t | $278.59 | $22.6M | 117 t |
| July 2026 | $11.4M | +9.9% | 52.9 t | $214.96 | $33.3M | 148 t |
| June 2026 | $13.8M | +32.1% | 86.2 t | $159.58 | $26.4M | 140 t |
| May 2026 | $9.5M | +7.4% | 37.6 t | $254.17 | $24.8M | 115 t |
| April 2026 | $12.9M | +15.1% | 82.3 t | $156.90 | $29.6M | 81.7 t |
| March 2026 | $13.9M | +33.6% | 65.1 t | $214.30 | $38.4M | 114 t |
| February 2026 | $8.9M | -4.3% | 47.8 t | $185.60 | $21.0M | 100 t |
| January 2026 | $10.9M | -2.5% | 64.2 t | $169.67 | $27.3M | 118 t |
| December 2025 | $7.9M | -15.1% | 50.6 t | $156.73 | $21.0M | 102 t |
| November 2025 | $8.9M | -10.9% | 62.5 t | $142.42 | $17.8M | 49.4 t |
| October 2025 | $9.2M | +15.0% | 57.7 t | $158.84 | $37.0M | 93.8 t |
| September 2025 | $10.2M | +7.8% | 74.7 t | $136.66 | $25.4M | 77.3 t |
| August 2025 | $8.6M | +14.9% | 53.6 t | $159.80 | $25.3M | 120 t |
| July 2025 | $10.4M | -11.8% | 57.2 t | $180.98 | $19.9M | 113 t |
| June 2025 | $10.4M | +15.9% | 68.7 t | $151.56 | $19.3M | 88.3 t |
| May 2025 | $8.9M | -16.5% | 90.1 t | $98.63 | $17.8M | 83.0 t |
| April 2025 | $11.2M | -12.0% | 99.3 t | $112.87 | $17.0M | 88.5 t |
| March 2025 | $10.4M | -12.0% | 89.8 t | $116.24 | $22.8M | 144 t |
| February 2025 | $9.3M | -16.3% | 53.3 t | $174.09 | $21.6M | 114 t |
| January 2025 | $11.2M | -4.1% | 86.8 t | $128.66 | $16.8M | 83.6 t |
| December 2024 | $9.3M | -8.8% | 62.2 t | $150.04 | $18.9M | 129 t |
| November 2024 | $10.0M | -23.1% | 101 t | $99.26 | $17.1M | 80.6 t |
Exports FOB, imports CIF, US dollars. Weight is net weight. "vs year earlier" compares export value with the same month one year before and is left blank when that month was under $10,000. Source: Korea Customs Service, via data.go.kr.
Largest headings exported to Italy
| Code | Product | Exports, 12 months | Share | vs 12 months before | October 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9018 | Medical, surgical and dental instruments | $43.5M | 32.5% | -3.8% | $3.5M |
| 9030 | Instruments for measuring electrical quantities | $25.4M | 18.9% | +187.1% | $2.5M |
| 9022 | X-ray and radiation apparatus | $12.3M | 9.2% | -5.7% | $956K |
| 9001 | Optical fibres, polarising sheets and lenses | $10.5M | 7.9% | +4.6% | $832K |
| 9027 | Instruments for physical or chemical analysis | $7.6M | 5.6% | +34.0% | $315K |
| 9032 | Automatic regulating or controlling instruments and apparatus | $7.2M | 5.4% | -22.8% | $491K |
| 9021 | Orthopaedic appliances, artificial body parts and hearing aids | $7.1M | 5.3% | +13.6% | $581K |
| 9014 | Direction finding compasses, etc. | $4.8M | 3.6% | +52.7% | $1.2M |
| 9004 | Spectacles, goggles and the like, corrective, protective or other | $3.6M | 2.7% | +21.7% | $829K |
| 9031 | Measuring or checking instruments and machines | $3.4M | 2.6% | -25.3% | $403K |
| 9026 | Instruments for measuring flow, level or pressure | $1.9M | 1.4% | +30.6% | $166K |
| 9025 | Thermometers, hydrometers, barometers and hygrometers | $1.7M | 1.3% | -33.2% | $39K |
| 9019 | Mechano-therapy appliances, etc. | $1.5M | 1.2% | +29.1% | $58K |
| 9003 | Frames and mountings for spectacles, goggles or the like, and parts thereof | $1.2M | 0.9% | -52.5% | $82K |
| 9011 | Compound optical microscopes, including those for photomicrography, etc. | $825K | 0.6% | +769.1% | $293K |
| 9002 | Mounted lenses, prisms and other optical elements | $436K | 0.3% | +0.3% | $20K |
| 9012 | Microscopes other than optical microscopes, etc. | $248K | 0.2% | -73.2% | $92K |
| 9023 | Instruments, apparatus and models, designed for demonstrational purposes, etc. | $217K | 0.2% | +62.4% | $21K |
| 9029 | Revolution counters, production counters, taximeters, mileometers, etc. | $200K | 0.1% | +33.3% | $15K |
| 9033 | Parts and accessories for machines, appliances, etc. | $159K | 0.1% | +276.1% | $8,000 |
See also: Optical, measuring and medical instruments to all countries · all exports to Italy