South Korea’s Main Imports by Top Supplier Countries

/ By Country / By

The Republic of Korea imported US$467.5 billion worth of products from around the globe during 2020, down by -7.1% from $503.3 billion in 2019.

This article presents a quick reference snapshot of South Korea’s main imported products in 2020, categorized by dollar amount and major trading partners.

Data is organized by overall metrics then drill down to the most valuable Korean imports during 2020 for each of South Korea’s top 10 supplier countries. Those leading trading partners accounted for over two-thirds (69.7%) of total Korean import purchases.

South Korean importers benefit from their nation’s proximity to other East Asian countries particularly China, Japan and Taiwan.

Product categories shown summarize calculations at the two-digit Harmonized System code level. Two-digit codes enable higher-level insights and trends for Korean imports and each of the top supplier countries.

South Korea’s Main Imports from China

In 2020, China’s exports to South Korea amounted to $108.9 billion or 23.3% of overall South Korean imports.

That dollar amount represents a 1.5% gain compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 81.8% of South Korea’s imports from the mainland China.

  1. Electronic equipment: $41.1 billion
  2. Machinery: $15.3 billion
  3. Inorganic chemicals: $3.8 billion
  4. Iron and steel: $3.8 billion
  5. Organic chemicals: $3.7 billion
  6. Iron or steel products: $3.4 billion
  7. Plastics: $3.2 billion
  8. Medical, technical equipment: $3 billion
  9. Furniture, lighting, signs: $2.6 billion
  10. Vehicles: $2 billion
  11. Clothing (not knit or crochet): $1.7 billion
  12. Ships, boats: $1.55 billion
  13. Other chemical goods: $1.48 billion
  14. Toys, games: $1.4 billion
  15. Knit or crochet clothing: $1.2 billion

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for South Korean imports from China under the ships and boats product category via a 257.3% gain in revenue, vehicles (up 17.2%), furniture, lighting and signs (up 16.4%) then medical or technical equipment (up 9.6%).

Posting the severest declines among South Korea’s top 15 imported products were iron and steel as materials (down -29.8%), unknitted and non-crocheted clothing (down -21.6%), products made from iron or steel (down -11.6%), knitted or crocheted clothing (down -11.4%) and miscellaneous chemical goods (down -10.9%).

South Korea’s Main Imports from the US

In 2020, the United States’ exports to South Korea amounted to $57.8 billion or 12.4% of overall South Korean imports.

That dollar amount represents a -7% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 82.5% of South Korea’s imports from America.

  1. Mineral fuels including oil: $11.9 billion
  2. Machinery: $8.1 billion
  3. Electronic equipment: $6.1 billion
  4. Medical, technical equipment: $4.1 billion
  5. Vehicles: $2.9 billion
  6. Meat: $2.3 billion
  7. Organic chemicals: $2 billion
  8. Pharmaceuticals: $1.8 billion
  9. Aircraft, spacecraft: $1.7 billion
  10. Plastics: $1.6 billion
  11. Other chemical goods: $1.5 billion
  12. Other food preparations: $1.2 billion
  13. Cereals: $1.17 billion
  14. Fruits, nuts: $744 million
  15. Oil seed: $625 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for South Korean imports from the United States under the vehicles product category via a 30.1% gain in revenue, pharmaceuticals (up 10.3%) and miscellaneous food preparations (up 9.5%).

Posting the severest declines among South Korea’s top 15 imported products were aircraft and spacecraft (down -31%), mineral fuels including oil (down -24%) then oil seed (down -21.4%).

South Korea’s Main Imports from Japan

In 2020, Japan’s exports to South Korea amounted to $46 billion or 9.8% of overall South Korean imports.

That dollar amount represents a -3.3% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 87.8% of South Korea’s imports from Japan.

  1. Machinery: $9.8 billion
  2. Electronic equipment: $8.1 billion
  3. Iron and steel: $3.8 billion
  4. Medical, technical equipment: $3.7 billion
  5. Plastics: $3.3 billion
  6. Organic chemicals: $2.3 billion
  7. Other chemical goods: $2.2 billion
  8. Vehicles: $1.6 billion
  9. Mineral fuels including oil: $1 billion
  10. Iron or steel products: $969.8 million
  11. Tanning, dyeing extracts: $882.2 million
  12. Gems, precious metals: $721.4 million
  13. Photo/cinematographic goods: $704.2 million
  14. Inorganic chemicals: $684.3 million
  15. Copper: $608.6 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for South Korean imports from Japan under the gems and precious metals product category via a 55.5% gain in revenue, copper (up 14.4%), machinery (up 14.1%) then photo or cinematographic goods (up 11.5%).

Posting the severest declines among South Korea’s top 15 imported products were mineral fuels including oil (down -42%), iron and steel as materials (down -26.6%), inorganic chemicals (down -24.6%), vehicles (down -22.9%), products made from iron or steel (down -16.8%) and organic chemicals (down -9.1%).

South Korea’s Main Imports from Germany

In 2020, Germany’s exports to South Korea amounted to $20.7 billion or 4.4% of overall South Korean imports.

That dollar amount represents a 3.7% gain compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 89.9% of South Korea’s imports from Germany.

  1. Vehicles: $6.6 billion
  2. Machinery: $3.5 billion
  3. Electronic equipment: $2.2 billion
  4. Medical, technical equipment: $1.8 billion
  5. Pharmaceuticals: $1.2 billion
  6. Organic chemicals: $666.8 million
  7. Plastics: $560.4 million
  8. Other chemical goods: $475 million
  9. Meat: $291.7 million
  10. Inorganic chemicals: $267.1 million
  11. Gems, precious metals: $262.2 million
  12. Iron or steel products: $250 million
  13. Tanning, dyeing extracts: $207.7 million
  14. Arms, ammunition: $191.3 million
  15. Other food preparations: $162.3 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for South Korean imports from Germany under the arms including ammunition product category via a 2,200% gain in revenue, gems and precious metals (up 114.6%), miscellaneous food preparations (up 65.8%), inorganic chemicals (up 13.4%) and electronic equipment (up 11.5%).

Posting the severest declines among South Korea’s top 15 imported products were meat (down -16.1%), organic chemicals (down -12.4%) and miscellaneous chemical goods (down -11%).

South Korea’s Main Imports from Vietnam

In 2020, Vietnam’s exports to South Korea amounted to $20.6 billion or 4.4% of overall South Korean imports.

That dollar amount represents a -2.3% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 88.6% of South Korea’s imports from Vietnam.

  1. Electronic equipment: $8.8 billion
  2. Machinery: $2 billion
  3. Clothing (not knit or crochet): $1.9 billion
  4. Knit or crochet clothing: $1.1 billion
  5. Footwear: $1 billion
  6. Wood: $626.8 million
  7. Fish: $557.8 million
  8. Furniture, lighting, signs: $411.4 million
  9. Medical, technical equipment: $403.6 million
  10. Other textiles, worn clothing: $334.8 million
  11. Plastics: $272 million
  12. Cotton: $208 million
  13. Meat, seafood preparations: $188.7 million
  14. Vehicles: $180.2 million
  15. Iron and steel: $174.7 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for South Korean imports from Vietnam under the machinery product category via a 51.9% gain in revenue, vehicles (up 17.6%), miscellaneous textiles including worn clothing (up 16.9%), cotton (up 14%) and plastics (up 13.9%).

Posting the severest declines among South Korea’s top 15 imported products were unknitted and non-crocheted clothing (down -19.2%), meat or seafood preparations (down -10%) then iron and steel as materials (down -9%).

South Korea’s Main Imports from Australia

In 2020, Australia’s exports to South Korea amounted to $18.7 billion or 4.0% of overall South Korean imports.

That dollar amount represents a -9.2% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 96.5% of South Korea’s imports from Australia.

  1. Mineral fuels including oil: $7.5 billion
  2. Ores, slag, ash: $6.7 billion
  3. Meat: $1.3 billion
  4. Aluminum: $767.5 million
  5. Gems, precious metals: $409.4 million
  6. Cereals: $332.5 million
  7. Sugar: $315.6 million
  8. Nickel: $234.3 million
  9. Salt, sulphur, stone, cement: $113.7 million
  10. Copper: $91.4 million
  11. Oil seed: $87.4 million
  12. Other food preparations: $74.8 million
  13. Tanning, dyeing extracts: $64.2 million
  14. Inorganic chemicals: $59.6 million
  15. Fruits, nuts: $56.5 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for South Korean imports from Australia under the fruits and nuts product category via a 86.1% gain in revenue, gems and precious metals (up 34%), aluminum (up 17.9%), miscellaneous food preparations (up 14.7%) then ores, slag and ash (up 13.7%).

Posting the severest declines among South Korea’s top 15 imported products were inorganic chemicals (down -63.7%), mineral fuels including oil (down -25.8%), copper (down -17.9%), sugar (down -12.7%) then oil seed (down -11%).

South Korea’s Main Imports from Taiwan

In 2020, Taiwan’s exports to South Korea amounted to $6.2 billion or 3.8% of overall South Korean imports.

That dollar amount represents a 48.5% gain compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 93.5% of South Korea’s imports from Taiwan.

  1. Machinery: $4.5 billion
  2. Vehicles: $204.3 million
  3. Electronic equipment: $202 million
  4. Medical, technical equipment: $174.9 million
  5. Dairy, eggs, honey: $145.3 million
  6. Organic chemicals: $130.1 million
  7. Plastics: $94.4 million
  8. Other chemical goods: $74.1 million
  9. Pharmaceuticals: $69.4 million
  10. Meat: $59.8 million
  11. Mineral fuels including oil: $47.4 million
  12. Beverages: $44.8 million
  13. Iron or steel products: $42.1 million
  14. Ores, slag, ash: $32.9 million
  15. Aluminum: $32.3 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for South Korean imports from Taiwan under the ores, slag and ash product category via a 400.8% gain in revenue, aluminum (up 135.3%), miscellaneous chemical goods (up 121.8%), machinery (up 117.9%), beverages (up 32.3%) then dairy, eggs and honey (up 30.7%).

Posting the severest declines among South Korea’s top 15 imported products were mineral fuels including oil (down -77.2%), electronic equipment (down -65.9%) and meat (down -15.4%).

South Korea’s Main Imports from Saudi

In 2020, Saudi Arabia’s exports to South Korea amounted to $16 billion or 3.4% of overall South Korean imports.

That dollar amount represents a -26.7% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 99.97% of South Korea’s imports from Saudi Arabia.

  1. Mineral fuels including oil: $15.2 billion
  2. Organic chemicals: $255.9 million
  3. Inorganic chemicals: $115.2 million
  4. Aluminum: $106.5 million
  5. Ships, boats: $105.4 million
  6. Plastics: $101.9 million
  7. Copper: $96 million
  8. Lead: $10.1 million
  9. Fertilizers: $8.1 million
  10. Iron and steel: $3 million
  11. Iron or steel products: $2.9 million
  12. Fish: $2.4 million
  13. Machinery: $2.2 million
  14. Gems, precious metals: $1.6 million
  15. Rubber: $1.6 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for South Korean imports from Saudi Arabia under the fertilizers product category via a 2,664% gain in revenue, gems and precious metals (up 282.8%), iron and steel as materials (up 129.8%), rubber (up 71.7%), machinery (up 32.8%) and aluminum (up 13.6%).

Posting the severest declines among South Korea’s top 15 imported products were fish (down -66.9%), lead (down -48.9%), copper (down -40.6%), plastics as a material (down -38.6%), products made from iron or steel (down -38.2%) and mineral fuels including oil (down -27.5%).

South Korea’s Main Imports from Russia

In 2020, Russia’s exports to South Korea amounted to $10.6 billion or 2.3% of overall South Korean imports.

That dollar amount represents a -27% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 98.3% of South Korea’s imports from Russia.

  1. Mineral fuels including oil: $7.9 billion
  2. Fish: $923.1 million
  3. Gems, precious metals: $330 million
  4. Iron and steel: $308.7 million
  5. Inorganic chemicals: $284.6 million
  6. Aluminum: $215 million
  7. Wood: $145.7 million
  8. Woodpulp: $86.7 million
  9. Cereals: $63.2 million
  10. Ships, boats: $53.3 million
  11. Other animal-origin products: $47.5 million
  12. Ores, slag, ash: $39.1 million
  13. Other base metals: $30.7 million
  14. Organic chemicals: $28.8 million
  15. Machinery: $19.3 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for South Korean imports from Russia under the ships and boats product category via a 10,348% gain in revenue, cereals (up 517.1%), other animal-origin products (up 45.3%), organic chemicals (up 32.7%), machinery (up 20.1%) and inorganic chemicals (up 16.7%).

Posting the severest declines among South Korea’s top 15 imported products were mineral fuels including oil (down -33%), ores, slag and ash (down -28.8%), iron and steel as materials (down -28.4%), aluminum (down -28.2%) then miscellaneous base metals (down -13.3%).

South Korea’s Main Imports from Malaysia

In 2020, Malaysia’s exports to South Korea amounted to $8.9 billion or 1.9% of overall South Korean imports.

That dollar amount represents a -4.2% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 93.5% of South Korea’s imports from Malaysia.

  1. Electronic equipment: $2.7 billion
  2. Mineral fuels including oil: $2.5 billion
  3. Machinery: $653.2 million
  4. Medical, technical equipment: $500.1 million
  5. Other chemical goods: $254.6 million
  6. Animal/vegetable fats and oils: $246.3 million
  7. Aluminum: $234.8 million
  8. Plastics: $207.5 million
  9. Copper: $173.1 million
  10. Iron and steel: $170.1 million
  11. Wood: $162 million
  12. Organic chemicals: $157.9 million
  13. Rubber: $131.3 million
  14. Glass: $129.4 million
  15. Food waste, animal fodder: $72.5 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for South Korean imports from Malaysia under the animal or vegetable fats and oils product category via a 29.6% gain in revenue, medical or technical equipment (up 24.6%), rubber (up 22.6%), miscellaneous chemical goods (up 15.9%), food waste and animal fodder (up 15.2%) then copper (up 8.1%).

Posting the severest declines among South Korea’s top 15 imported products were iron and steel as materials (down -39.6%), aluminum (down -28.2%), organic chemicals (down -21.2%), wood (down -20.1%), plastics (down -14.5%) and mineral fuels including oil (down -12.4%).

See also

More great research: World’s Top 100 Imported Consumer Products, China’s Top 100 Imported Consumer Products, South Korea’s Top Imported Consumer Products Ranked by Value

References

International Trade Centre, Trade Map.

Wikipedia, South Korea, Borders of South Korea

World’s Top Exports, Import News.

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