That dollar total results from a 10% year-over-year increase from $644.4 billion in 2024.
Enlarging to a 5-year time frame, the value of South Korean exports grew by 3.7% compared to $683.7 billion for 2021.
Based on the average exchange rate for 2025, the South Korean won has depreciated by -4.1% against the US dollar from 2024 to 2025. The Republic of South Korea’s weaker local currency made Korean exports paid for in stronger US dollars relatively less expensive in 2025 for international buyers starting from American currency.
South Korea’s 5 biggest export products by value in 2025 were electronic integrated circuits, cars, refined petroleum oils, cruise or cargo ships and barges, then computer parts or accessories. In aggregate, those major exports generated over two-fifths (43.3%) of South Korea’s overall exports. That percentage suggests a relatively concentrated range of exported goods.
South Korea is the world leader for exporting cruise or cargo ships and ranks among the top countries for global sales of electronic integrated circuits, cars, refined oils and mobile phones.
South Korea’s Best International Trade Customers
The latest available country-specific data shows that 73.1% of products exported from South Korea was bought by importers in: mainland China (18.4% of the Korean total), United States of America (17.4%), Vietnam (8.9%), Taiwan (6.9%), Hong Kong (4.9%), Japan (4%), Singapore (2.8%), India (2.7%), Australia (2%), Malaysia (1.74%), Mexico (1.7%) and Philippines (1.64%).
From a continental perspective, three-fifths (60%) of South Korea’s exports by value in 2025 was delivered to fellow Asian countries while 20.6% was sold to importers in North America. South Korea shipped another 12.1% worth of goods to buyers in Europe.
Smaller percentages went to customers in Oceania (3.3%) led by Australia, New Zealand and Marshall Islands, Latin America (2.3%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, then Africa (1.7%).
Given South Korea’s population of 51.7 million people, its total US$708.9 billion in products exported during 2025 translates to roughly $13,700 for every resident in the southeast Asian nation. That per-capita dollar amount exceeds the average $13,200 in 2024.
South Korea’s Top 10 Exports
The following export product groups categorize the highest dollar value in South Korean global shipments during 2025. Also shown is the percentage share each export category represents in terms of overall South Korean exports.
- Electrical machinery, equipment: US$235 billion (33.1% of total exports)
- Vehicles: $92.2 billion (13%)
- Machinery including computers: $85.1 billion (12%)
- Mineral fuels including oil: $47.2 billion (6.7%)
- Plastics, plastic articles: $33.8 billion (4.8%)
- Ships, boats: $29.9 billion (4.2%)
- Iron, steel: $22.8 billion (3.2%)
- Organic chemicals: $19 billion (2.7%)
- Optical, technical, medical apparatus: $16.9 billion (2.4%)
- Perfumes, cosmetics: $11 billion (1.6%)
South Korea’s top 10 export product categories are relatively concentrated, accounting for 83.6% of the overall value of its shipments.
Double-digit gainers among South Korea’s top export product categories were ships and boats (up 24.3% from 2024), perfumes and cosmetics (up 11.7%) then electrical machinery and equipment (up 10.4%).
The severest declines belong to South Korean exports of organic chemicals (down -14.6% from 2024) and mineral fuels including oil (down -10.3%).
Note that the results listed above are at the categorized two-digit Harmonized Tariff System (HTS) code level. For a more granular view of exported goods at the four-digit HTS code level, see the section below.
South Korea’s most valuable export commodities from the four-digit designation were electronic integrated circuits or microassemblies (20.1% of the Korean total), cars (9.7%), processed petroleum oils (6.3%), cruise or cargo ships and barges (3.7%), computer parts or accessories (3.5%), automobile parts or accessories (2.5%), flat panel displays (2.2%), unrecorded sound media (1.7%), television, radio or radar device parts (1.4%) then beauty, makeup and skin care preparations (1.3%).
South Korean Major Product Trade Surpluses
South Korea incurred an overall US$77.4 billion trade surplus for 2025, expanding by 50% from $51.6 billion in black ink one year earlier during 2024.
The following types of South Korean product shipments represent positive net exports or a trade balance surplus. Investopedia defines net exports as the value of a country’s total exports minus the value of its total imports.
In a nutshell, net exports represent the amount by which foreign spending on a home country’s goods or services exceeds or lags the home country’s spending on foreign goods or services.
- Electrical machinery, equipment: US$107.4 billion (Up by 21% since 2024)
- Vehicles: $71.7 billion (Down by -0.6%)
- Ships, boats: $26.1 billion (Up by 25.3%)
- Plastics, plastic articles: $20.5 billion (Down by -11.2%)
- Iron, steel: $11 billion (Up by 3.8%)
- Machinery including computers: $10.4 billion (Down by -28%)
- Perfumes, cosmetics: $8.9 billion (Up by 13.9%)
- Organic chemicals: $5.3 billion (Down by -33.8%)
- Rubber, rubber articles: $4.3 billion (Down by -9.3%)
- Arms, ammunition: $3 billion (2024 data unavailable)
South Korea has highly positive net exports in the international trade of electrical machinery and equipment, as well as vehicles, notably cars and automotive parts or accessories. These cashflows indicate South Korea’s strong competitive advantages under the related product categories.
South Korean Major Product Trade Deficits
Below are exports from South Korea that are negative net exports or product trade balance deficits. These negative net exports reveal product categories where foreign spending on South Korea’s goods trail the home country’s import spending on foreign products.
- Mineral fuels including oil: -US$92.8 billion (Down by -15.3% since 2024)
- Ores, slag, ash: -$20.2 billion (Up by 10.6%)
- Optical, technical, medical apparatus: -$7.9 billion (Up by 34.8%)
- Meat: -$6.9 billion (Up by 2.5%)
- Clothing, accessories (not knit or crochet): -$6.1 billion (Down by -2.8%)
- Gems, precious metals: -$5.4 billion (Up by 371.8%)
- Cereals: -$4.4 billion (Down by -7.3%)
- Knit or crochet clothing, accessories: -$4.3 billion (Up by 0.4%)
- Aluminum: -$3.8 billion (Up by 2.8%)
- Fish: -$3.4 billion (Up by 7.5%)
South Korea has highly negative net exports and historically international trade deficits for crude oil and petroleum gases, key inputs needed for its highly industrialized economy to function effectively.
These cashflow deficiencies clearly indicate South Korea’s competitive disadvantages in the international fossil fuel market, but also represent potential opportunities for South Korea to improve its position in the global economy by innovating via alternative energy supplies.
South Korea’s Main Export Companies
Wikipedia lists many of the larger international trade players from South Korea including:
- Doosan Heavy Industries (heavy machinery)
- Hynix Semiconductor (semiconductors)
- Hyundai Motor (car, truck manufacturing)
- KT&G (tobacco)
- LG Electronics (consumer electronics)
- Lotte Chemical (specialized chemicals)
- SK Holdings (oil, gas)
- S-Oil (oil, gas)
According to global trade intelligence firm Zepol, the following companies are also examples of South Korean exporters.
- Hankook Tire (rubber inner tubes, vehicle tires, latex)
- LG Electronics (dryers, washing machines, refrigerators, freezers)
- Samsung Electronics (telecommunication equipment, refrigerators, freezers)
In macroeconomic terms, South Korea’s total exported goods represent 21.1% of its overall Gross Domestic Product for 2025 ($3.365 trillion valued in Purchasing Power Parity US dollars). That 21.1% for exports to overall GDP in PPP for 2025 compares to 21% one year earlier. Those percentages suggest a modestly increasing reliance on products sold on international markets for South Korea’s total economic performance, albeit based on a short timeframe.
Another key indicator of a country’s economic performance is its unemployment rate. South Korea’s unemployment rate averaged 3% for 2025, up from an average 2.8% in 2024 according to International Monetary Fund statistics.
Domestically, South Koreans experienced an average inflation rate of 1.839% for 2025 down from average inflation of 2.322% in 2024.
South Korea’s capital city is Seoul.
See also South Korea’s Top 10 Major Export Companies, South Korea’s Top Trade Partners and Top South Korean Trade Balances
Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook: Country Profiles. Accessed on February 18, 2026
International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Database (GDP based on Purchasing Power Parity). Accessed on February 18, 2026
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on February 18, 2026
Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on February 18, 2026
Wikipedia, Gross domestic product. Accessed on February 18, 2026
Wikipedia, List of Companies of South Korea. Accessed on February 18, 2026
Wikipedia, Purchasing power parity. Accessed on February 18, 2026
X-rates.com, Exchange Rates: South Korean Won to US Dollar (monthly average 2025). Accessed on February 18, 2026
Zepol’s company summary highlights by country. Accessed on February 18, 2026