The following product categories represent the highest dollar value in South Korea’s import purchases during 2019. Also shown is the percentage share each product category represents in terms of overall imports into South Korea.

1. Mineral fuels including oil: US$127.3 billion (25.3% of total imports)
2. Electrical machinery, equipment: $89.7 billion (17.8%)
3. Machinery including computers: $51.6 billion (10.3%)
4. Optical, technical, medical apparatus: $18.5 billion (3.7%)
5. Vehicles: $16.7 billion (3.3%)
6. Iron, steel: $15.7 billion (3.1%)
7. Ores, slag, ash: $15.1 billion (3%)
8. Organic chemicals: $12.7 billion (2.5%)
9. Plastics, plastic articles: $11.5 billion (2.3%)
10. Other chemical goods: $8.2 billion (1.6%)

South Korea’s top 10 imports accounted for almost three-quarters (72.9%) of the overall value of its product purchases from other countries during 2019.

Two the above product categories expanded in cost from 2018 to 2019, namely electrical machinery and equipment (up 5.8%) and ores, slag and ash (up 0.8%).

Leading the depreciating categories year over year were optical, technical and medical apparatus (down -17.6%), machinery including computers (down -14.2%) then mineral fuels including oil (down -13.4%).

Please note that the results listed above are at the 2-digit Harmonized Tariff System code level. Information presented under other virtual folder tabs is at the more granular 4-digit level.

South Korean importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of mineral fuels-related products during 2019.

1. Crude oil: US$70.2 billion (down -12.7% from 2018)
2. Petroleum gases: $24.2 billion (down -10.8%)
3. Processed petroleum oils: $17.2 billion (down -18.2%)
4. Coal, solid fuels made from coal: $14.1 billion (down -14.8%)
5. Coal tar oils (high temperature distillation): $1.3 billion (down -12.3%)
6. Petroleum oil residues: $119.3 million (down -28.9%)
7. Coke, semi-coke: $101.7 million (down -22.9%)
8. Petroleum jelly, mineral waxes: $38.4 million (down -16.5%)
9. Distilled tar: $36.2 million (up 56.1%)
10. Peat: $13.7 million (down -5.7%)

Among these import subcategories, only South Korea’s purchases of distilled tar rose from 2018 to 2019 thanks to its 56.1% increase.

These amounts and the percentage changes within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported fuel among Korean businesses and consumers.

In 2019, South Korean importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of electronics products.

1. Integrated circuits/microassemblies: US$35.7 billion (up 3.4% from 2018)
2. Phone system devices including smartphones: $12.8 billion (up 8%)
3. Solar power diodes/semi-conductors: $5 billion (up 7.4%)
4. TV/radio/radar device parts: $5 billion (up 121.9%)
5. Insulated wire/cable: $3 billion (down -0.04%)
6. Electrical converters/power units: $2.5 billion (up 3.7%)
7. Lower-voltage switches, fuses: $2.3 billion (down -2%)
8. Printed circuits: $2.3 billion (up 1.2%)
9. Electric motors, generators: $2 billion (up 2.1%)
10. TV receivers/monitors/projectors: $1.6 billion (down -2%)

Among these import subcategories, South Korea’s purchases of TV, radio and radar device parts (up 121.9%), phone system devices including smartphones (up 8%) and solar power diodes or semi-conductors (up 7.4%) grew at the fastest pace from 2018 to 2019.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported electronics among Korean businesses and consumers.

In 2019, South Korean importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of machinery including computers.

1. Machinery for making semi-conductors: US$9 billion (down -46.5% from 2018)
2. Computers, optical readers: $6.7 billion (down -18.9%)
3. Computer parts, accessories: $6.1 billion (up 28.9%)
4. Air or vacuum pumps: $2.6 billion (down -3.2%)
5. Miscellaneous machinery: $2.4 billion (up 7.9%)
6. Taps, valves, similar appliances: $2.4 billion (down -2.3%)
7. Centrifuges, filters and purifiers: $1.7 billion (up 12.5%)
8. Turbo-jets: $1.7 billion (down -6.3%)
9. Liquid pumps and elevators: $1.6 billion (up 3.9%)
10. Printing machinery: $1.2 billion (down -5.7%)

Among these import subcategories, South Korea’s purchases of computer parts or accessories (up 28.9%), centrifuges, filters and purifiers (up 12.5%) and miscellaneous machinery (up 7.9%) grew at the fastest pace from 2018 to 2019.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported machinery among Korean businesses and consumers.

In 2019, South Korean importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of medical and technical equipment.

1. Other measuring/testing machines: US$2.5 billion (down -25% from 2018)
2. Electro-medical equipment (e.g. xrays): $2.2 billion (up 10.7%)
3. Physical/chemical analysis tools: $2 billion (down -0.8%)
4. Oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers: $1.9 billion (up 10.3%)
5. Optical fiber cables, sheets, plates: $1.5 billion (down -14.7%)
6. Liquid crystal/laser/optical tools: $1.3 billion (down -68.5%)
7. Regulate/control instruments: $1.2 billion (down -4.7%)
8. Lenses, prisms, mirrors: $1.2 billion (down -0.7%)
9. Orthopedic appliances: $818.4 million (up 7.3%)
10. Liquid/gas checking instruments: $731.3 million (down -3.1%)

Among these import subcategories, South Korea’s purchases of electro-medical equipment (up 10.7%), oscilloscopes and spectrum analyzers (up 10.3%) then orthopedic appliances (up 7.3%) grew from 2018 to 2019.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported medical and technical equipment among Korean businesses and consumers.