Optical, measuring and medical instruments: South Korea exports to South Africa
HS chapter 90 · 광학기기ㆍ사진용 기기ㆍ영화용 기기ㆍ측정기기ㆍ검사기기ㆍ정밀기기ㆍ의료용 기기, 이들의 부분품과 부속품 · latest month: October 2026
In October 2026, South Korea exported $1.7 million of optical, measuring and medical instruments (HS 90) to South Africa, down 27.4% from September 2026 and up 15.9% from October 2025.
Over the 12 months to October 2026, exports of optical, measuring and medical instruments (HS 90) to South Africa totalled $19.8 million, down 17.7% from the 12 months before ($24.0 million).
South Africa took 0.1% of South Korea's exports of this product over the 12 months to October 2026, ranking 50th of 217 destinations (43rd in the 12 months before).
This product made up 2.4% of South Korea's goods exports to South Africa over the same period.
The average export value in October 2026 was $101.55 per kg of net weight, compared with $61.78 per kg in October 2025.
Imports from South Africa in October 2026 were $79,123 (up 74.0% from October 2025), leaving a surplus of $1.6 million for the month.
Last 24 months
Monthly figures
| Month | Exports | vs year earlier | Export weight | Export $/kg | Imports | Import weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | $1.7M | +15.9% | 16.3 t | $101.55 | $79K | 40 kg |
| September 2026 | $2.3M | +4.0% | 23.8 t | $95.79 | $208K | 5.9 t |
| August 2026 | $1.9M | -28.3% | 29.0 t | $66.51 | $45K | 685 kg |
| July 2026 | $1.6M | +20.5% | 18.0 t | $88.56 | $67K | 739 kg |
| June 2026 | $1.5M | -40.6% | 17.8 t | $83.50 | $40K | 19 kg |
| May 2026 | $1.1M | -17.3% | 11.1 t | $100.71 | $194K | 8.8 t |
| April 2026 | $1.9M | -19.7% | 19.4 t | $95.59 | $221K | 714 kg |
| March 2026 | $1.5M | -11.2% | 19.5 t | $76.99 | $33K | 910 kg |
| February 2026 | $1.3M | +14.2% | 8.8 t | $143.97 | $24K | 721 kg |
| January 2026 | $1.8M | -56.0% | 13.6 t | $134.97 | $57K | 702 kg |
| December 2025 | $1.6M | -14.3% | 20.3 t | $78.89 | $4.7M | 475 kg |
| November 2025 | $1.7M | +19.1% | 14.5 t | $114.06 | $167K | 2.8 t |
| October 2025 | $1.4M | +3.5% | 23.1 t | $61.78 | $45K | 55 kg |
| September 2025 | $2.2M | +21.0% | 21.6 t | $101.11 | $78K | 64 kg |
| August 2025 | $2.7M | +135.1% | 27.6 t | $97.62 | $4.0M | 1.6 t |
| July 2025 | $1.3M | -59.6% | 17.8 t | $74.25 | $208K | 5.4 t |
| June 2025 | $2.5M | +85.7% | 22.5 t | $111.15 | $18K | 29 kg |
| May 2025 | $1.4M | -24.5% | 12.8 t | $106.20 | $192K | 1.6 t |
| April 2025 | $2.3M | +50.6% | 27.5 t | $84.21 | $15K | 23 kg |
| March 2025 | $1.7M | +17.7% | 10.8 t | $156.77 | $44K | 281 kg |
| February 2025 | $1.1M | -17.5% | 8.1 t | $137.17 | $820K | 155 kg |
| January 2025 | $4.2M | +145.7% | 14.5 t | $286.17 | $121K | 4.2 t |
| December 2024 | $1.9M | +2.2% | 11.1 t | $168.80 | $325K | 1.1 t |
| November 2024 | $1.4M | -35.2% | 8.4 t | $165.75 | $30K | 671 kg |
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 South Africa
| Code | Product | Exports, 12 months | Share | vs 12 months before | October 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9018 | Medical, surgical and dental instruments | $8.9M | 45.2% | +9.8% | $755K |
| 9022 | X-ray and radiation apparatus | $4.1M | 20.6% | -4.7% | $328K |
| 9021 | Orthopaedic appliances, artificial body parts and hearing aids | $2.4M | 12.0% | +16.9% | $175K |
| 9031 | Measuring or checking instruments and machines | $2.3M | 11.7% | -62.2% | $186K |
| 9032 | Automatic regulating or controlling instruments and apparatus | $838K | 4.2% | +9.6% | $54K |
| 9027 | Instruments for physical or chemical analysis | $310K | 1.6% | +2.8% | $21K |
| 9019 | Mechano-therapy appliances, etc. | $273K | 1.4% | -1.5% | $93K |
| 9026 | Instruments for measuring flow, level or pressure | $162K | 0.8% | +23.9% | $11K |
| 9001 | Optical fibres, polarising sheets and lenses | $151K | 0.8% | -1.7% | $1,487 |
| 9023 | Instruments, apparatus and models, designed for demonstrational purposes, etc. | $55K | 0.3% | -21.7% | $13K |
| 9002 | Mounted lenses, prisms and other optical elements | $43K | 0.2% | -3.2% | $11 |
| 9030 | Instruments for measuring electrical quantities | $42K | 0.2% | -95.8% | $51 |
| 9014 | Direction finding compasses, etc. | $42K | 0.2% | -13.4% | $8,214 |
| 9033 | Parts and accessories for machines, appliances, etc. | $31K | 0.2% | -58.7% | $47 |
| 9003 | Frames and mountings for spectacles, goggles or the like, and parts thereof | $27K | 0.1% | -0.5% | $0 |
| 9017 | Drawing, marking-out or mathematical calculating instruments, etc. | $21K | 0.1% | -22.4% | $0 |
| 9025 | Thermometers, hydrometers, barometers and hygrometers | $19K | 0.1% | +19.7% | $521 |
| 9029 | Revolution counters, production counters, taximeters, mileometers, etc. | $17K | 0.1% | +42.5% | $1,438 |
| 9028 | Gas, liquid or electricity supply or production meters, etc. | $13K | 0.1% | – | $0 |
| 9004 | Spectacles, goggles and the like, corrective, protective or other | $12K | 0.1% | -15.7% | $2,441 |
See also: Optical, measuring and medical instruments to all countries · all exports to South Africa