Top South Korean Imports from the World
In 2015, South Korea bought US$436.5 billion worth of imported products down by 16.8% since 2011 with the decline accelerating with
a 16.9% drop from 2014 to 2015.
Top 10 South Korean Imports from China
China's exports to South Korea amounted to
$90.2 billion or 20.7% of its overall imports.
1. Electronic equipment: $31.7 billion
2. Machinery: $10.2 billion
3. Iron and steel: $6.9 billion
4. Medical, technical equipment: $4.3 billion
5. Iron or steel products: $3.7 billion
6. Organic chemicals: $2.4 billion
7. Plastics: $2.2 billion
8. Clothing (not knit or crochet): $2.2 billion
9. Inorganic chemicals: $2 billion
10. Furniture, lighting, signs: $1.9 billion
Top 10 South Korean Imports from Japan
Japan's exports to South Korea amounted to
$45.9 billion or 10.5% of its overall imports.
1. Machinery: $8.4 billion
2. Electronic equipment: $7.6 billion
3. Iron and steel: $4.7 billion
4. Medical, technical equipment: $3.7 billion
5. Organic chemicals: $3.3 billion
6. Plastics: $3.2 billion
7. Oil: $1.9 billion
8. Other chemical goods: $1.7 billion
9. Vehicles: $1.5 billion
10. Iron or steel products: $1.1 billion
Top 10 South Korean Imports from the US
US exports to South Korea amounted to
$44.2 billion or 10.1% of its overall imports.
1. Machinery: $7.8 billion
2. Electronic equipment: $6.7 billion
3. Medical, technical equipment: $3.5 billion
4. Aircraft, spacecraft: $2.4 billion
5. Vehicles: $1.7 billion
6. Oil: $1.7 billion
7. Other chemical goods: $1.5 billion
8. Plastics: $1.5 billion
9. Organic chemicals: $1.3 billion
10. Cereals: $1.3 billion
Top 10 S. Korean Imports from Germany
Germany's exports to South Korea amounted to
$21 billion or 4.8% of its overall imports.
1. Vehicles: $6.8 billion
2. Machinery: $4 billion
3. Electronic equipment: $2.2 billion
4. Medical, technical equipment: $1.7 billion
5. Organic chemicals: $1 billion
6. Pharmaceuticals: $692.8 million
7. Plastics: $507.6 million
8. Other chemical goods: $460.6 million
9. Gems, precious metals: $438.2 million
10. Iron or steel products: $399.9 million
Top 10 South Korean Imports from Saudi
Saudi Arabia's exports to South Korea amounted to $19.6 billion or 4.5% of its overall imports.
1. Oil: $18.5 billion
2. Organic chemicals: $485.8 million
3. Aluminum: $261.2 million
4. Copper: $137.5 million
5. Inorganic chemicals: $112.1 million
6. Plastics: $42.7 million
7. Glass: $15.7 million
8. Lead: $8.4 million
9. Ores, slag, ash: $5.8 million
10. Fish: $5 million
Top 10 S. Korean Imports from Taiwan
Taiwan's exports to South Korea amounted to
$16.7 billion or 3.8% of its overall imports.
1. Electronic equipment: $12.2 billion
2. Machinery: $851.9 million
3. Organic chemicals: $533.1 million
4. Plastics: $442.5 million
5. Medical, technical equipment: $433.3 million
6. Iron and steel: $361.3 million
7. Other chemical goods: $185.2 million
8. Copper: $181 million
9. Vehicles: $161 million
10. Glass: $106.6 million
Top 10 South Korean Imports from Qatar
Qatar's exports to South Korea amounted to
$16.5 billion or 3.8% of its overall imports.
1. Oil: $16.2 billion
2. Aluminum: $201.5 million
3. Inorganic chemicals: $33.1 million
4. Organic chemicals: $22.6 million
5. Plastics: $16 million
6. Fertilizers: $15.7 million
7. Machinery: $8.2 million
8. Copper: $6.3 million
9. Electronic equipment: $3.4 million
10. Medical, technical equipment: $925,000
Top 10 S. Korean Imports from Australia
Australia's exports to South Korea amounted to
$16.5 billion or 3.8% of its overall imports.
1. Oil: $6.8 billion
2. Ores, slag, ash: $4.7 billion
3. Meat: $1.1 billion
4. Aluminum: $770.8 million
5. Sugar: $422.8 million
6. Cereals: $362.8 million
7. Ships, boats: $336.9 million
8. Gems, precious metals: $280.3 million
9. Inorganic chemicals: $261.5 million
10. Machinery: $109.5 million
Top 10 South Korean Imports from Russia
Russia's exports to South Korea amounted to
$11.3 billion or 2.6% of its overall imports.
1. Oil: $8.7 billion
2. Fish: $702.3 million
3. Aluminum: $405.5 million
4. Iron and steel: $393.3 million
5. Inorganic chemicals: $314.1 million
6. Cereals: $145.7 million
7. Wood: $133.7 million
8. Woodpulp: $116.8 million
9. Gems, precious metals, coins: $59.5 million
10. Lead: $48.6 million
Top 10 South Korean Imports from Vietnam
Vietnam's exports to South Korea amounted to
$9.8 billion or 2.2% of its overall imports.
1. Electronic equipment: $2.8 billion
2. Clothing (not knit or crochet): $1.7 billion
3. Knit or crochet clothing: $560.2 million
4. Footwear: $526.4 million
5. Machinery: $485.8 million
6. Fish: $441.8 million
7. Wood: $345.3 million
8. Medical, technical equipment: $271.9 million
9. Furniture, lighting, signs: $257.4 million
10. Oil: $202.2 million
Top 10 South Korean Imports from Kuwait
Kuwait's exports to South Korea amounted to
$9 billion or 2.1% of its overall imports.
1. Oil: $8.9 billion
2. Copper: $8.5 million
3. Aluminum: $6.4 million
4. Electronic equipment: $4.4 million
5. Other chemical goods: $3.5 million
6. Machinery: $646,000
7. Woodpulp: $564,000
8. Plastics: $498,000
9. Iron or steel products: $246,000
10. Vehicles: $200,000
Fastest-Growing South Korean Imports 2015
Research Note:
Import numbers rarely match the source exporters’ stats. Reasons for import-export statistical discrepancies include re-exports, time lags, misallocations, distinct trade reporting systems, different quantity measurements and country confidentiality rules. Also, transportation and insurance costs are sometimes added to import totals.
Data source: Trade Map, International Trade Centre, www.intracen.org/marketanalysis
