The following product categories represent the highest dollar value in South Korea’s import purchases during 2018. Also shown is the percentage share each product category represents in terms of overall imports into South Korea.

1. Mineral fuels including oil: US$146.9 billion (27.5% of total imports)
2. Electrical machinery, equipment: $84.8 billion (15.8%)
3. Machinery including computers: $60.2 billion (11.2%)
4. Optical, technical, medical apparatus: $22.4 billion (4.2%)
5. Vehicles: $16.8 billion (3.1%)
6. Iron, steel: $16.5 billion (3.1%)
7. Ores, slag, ash: $15 billion (2.8%)
8. Organic chemicals: $14.2 billion (2.7%)
9. Plastics, plastic articles: $11.8 billion (2.2%)
10. Inorganic chemicals: $9.3 billion (1.7%)

South Korea’s top 10 imports accounted for almost three-quarters (74.3%) of the overall value of its product purchases from other countries during 2018.

Imported mineral fuels including oil had the fastest-growing increase in value among Korea’s top 10 import categories, up 33.6% from 2017 to 2018.

In second place for Korea’s improving import sales was a 28.5% improvement for inorganic chemicals trailed by the 11.5% gain for organic chemicals and the 7.1% uptick for imported vehicles.

Two top 10 import categories each declined by -0.6%, namely machinery including computers and iron and steel.

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 2018.

1. Crude oil: US$80.4 billion (up 34.9% from 2017)
2. Petroleum gases: $27.1 billion (up 44.2%)
3. Processed petroleum oils: $21 billion (up 43.2%)
4. Coal, solid fuels made from coal: $16.5 billion (up 9.7%)
5. Coal tar oils (high temperature distillation): $1.5 billion (up 3.5%)
6. Petroleum oil residues: $167.6 million (down -5.5%)
7. Coke, semi-coke: $131.9 million (up 34.5%)
8. Petroleum jelly, mineral waxes: $46 million (down -2.3%)
9. Distilled tar: $23.2 million (up 131.1%)
10. Peat: $14.5 million (down -9.7%)

Among these import subcategories, South Korea’s purchases of distilled tar (up 131.1%), petroleum gases (up 44.2%) and processed petroleum oils (up 43.2%) grew at the fastest pace from 2017 to 2018.

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

In 2018, South Korean importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of electronics products.

1. Integrated circuits/microassemblies: US$34.5 billion (up 3.4% from 2017)
2. Phone system devices including smartphones: $11.9 billion (down -10.7%)
3. Solar power diodes/semi-conductors: $4.7 billion (down -1.2%)
4. Insulated wire/cable: $3 billion (up 2.5%)
5. Electrical converters/power units: $2.4 billion (down -1%)
6. Lower-voltage switches, fuses: $2.3 billion (up 1%)
7. TV/radio/radar device parts: $2.2 billion (up 44.5%)
8. Printed circuits: $2.2 billion (down -7.1%)
9. Electric motors, generators: $2 billion (down -7.1%)
10. Electrical machinery: $1.7 billion (up 15.8%)

Among these import subcategories, South Korea’s purchases of TV, radio and radar device parts (up 44.5%), electrical machinery (up 15.8%) and integrated circuits or microassemblies (up 3.4%) grew at the fastest pace from 2017 to 2018.

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 2018, South Korean importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of machinery including computers.

1. Machinery for making semi-conductors: US$16.9 billion (down -16.9% from 2017)
2. Computers, optical readers: $8.3 billion (up 9.7%)
3. Computer parts, accessories: $4.8 billion (up 55.4%)
4. Air or vacuum pumps: $2.6 billion (up 0.6%)
5. Taps, valves, similar appliances: $2.4 billion (down -2.3%)
6. Miscellaneous machinery: $2.2 billion (down -8.7%)
7. Turbo-jets: $1.8 billion (up 15.9%)
8. Centrifuges, filters and purifiers: $1.5 billion (up 12.7%)
9. Liquid pumps and elevators: $1.5 billion (up 3.4%)
10. Printing machinery: $1.3 billion (down -7.5%)

Among these import subcategories, South Korea’s purchases of computer parts or accessories (up 55.4%), turbo-jets (up 15.9%) and centrifuges, filters and purifiers (up 12.7%) grew at the fastest pace from 2017 to 2018.

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 2018, South Korean importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of medical and technical equipment.

1. Liquid crystal/laser/optical tools: US$4.1 billion (up 2.4% from 2017)
2. Other measuring/testing machines: $3.3 billion (up 13.2%)
3. Physical/chemical analysis tools: $2 billion (up 3%)
4. Electro-medical equipment (e.g. xrays): $2 billion (up 10.3%)
5. Optical fiber cables, sheets, plates: $1.7 billion (down -4.4%)
6. Oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers: $1.7 billion (up 11.6%)
7. Regulate/control instruments: $1.3 billion (down -3.1%)
8. Lenses, prisms, mirrors: $1.2 billion (down -14.7%)
9. Orthopedic appliances: $762.5 million (up 9.4%)
10. Liquid/gas checking instruments: $754.4 million (up 1.5%)

Among these import subcategories, South Korea’s purchases of other measuring or testing machines (up 13.2%), oscilloscopes and spectrum analyzers (up 11.6%) and electro-medical equipment such as for xrays (up 10.3%) grew at the fastest pace from 2017 to 2018.

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.