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The twenty imports South Korea is best placed to replace.

South Korea imported USD 402bn of manufactured goods in 2024 and exported USD 655bn. These are the twenty that sit closest to what it already makes well and where one country supplies most of them.

USD 10bnthe twenty, imported in 2024
628products imported at scale, not yet exported well, and close to existing strengths
888products South Korea already exports well
2287product lines imported at USD 10m or more
The twenty

Demand, capability, exposure. Nothing else is claimed.

Each line shows the import bill, where it comes from, the nearest thing South Korea already exports well, and how many countries make it. It does not say whether a plant in South Korea would pay. That reason is not in any trade record, and it is the maker's question.

This edition is trade and capability only, scored out of 8. The UK edition adds which public bodies buy each product and which region holds the capability; those layers are built only where a country publishes contract awards and regional trade, and South Korea does not publish them in a form this record can read yet.

  1. 1

    Wrist-watches: whether or not incorporating a stop-watch facility, with automatic windingHS 910221

    Comes fromSwitzerland 98%, 39 source countries
    Nearest export strengthClock movements: complete and assembled, electrically operated (exports USD 902k)
    Exports of this lineUSD 25m; 3 more lines in the heading, USD 201m
    Countries that export it well6

    Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 435m, top 7 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to South Korea's export strengths in the top 23 per cent (2); Switzerland supplies 98 per cent (2).

    USD 435mup 8% on 2022
  2. 2

    Optical instruments and appliances: for inspecting semiconductor wafers or devices or for inspecting photomasks or...HS 903141

    Comes fromUnited States 39%, 29 source countries
    Nearest export strengthOptical elements: polarising material, sheets and plates thereof (exports USD 1.7bn)
    Exports of this lineUSD 179m; 2 more lines in the heading, USD 46m
    Countries that export it well6

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 1.5bn, top 2 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to South Korea's export strengths in the top 3 per cent (3).

    USD 1.5bndown 19% on 2022
  3. 3

    Turbines: parts of turbo-jets and turbo-propellersHS 841191

    Comes fromUnited States 72%, 44 source countries
    Nearest export strengthMachinery: parts and accessories (other than covers, carrying cases... (exports USD 17bn)
    Exports of this lineUSD 591m; 6 more lines in the heading, USD 2.6bn
    Countries that export it well12

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 1.3bn, top 2 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to South Korea's export strengths in the top 29 per cent (1); United States supplies 72 per cent (2).

    USD 1.3bnup 107% on 2022
  4. 4

    Engines: reciprocating piston engines, of a kind used for the propulsion of vehicles of chapter 87, of a cylinder...HS 840734

    Comes fromMexico 63%, 31 source countries
    Nearest export strengthMachinery: parts and accessories (other than covers, carrying cases... (exports USD 17bn)
    Exports of this lineUSD 1.2bn; 3 more lines in the heading, USD 82m
    Countries that export it well14

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 1.1bn, top 2 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to South Korea's export strengths in the top 33 per cent (1); Mexico supplies 63 per cent (2).

    USD 1.1bnfrom USD 163m in 2022
  5. 5

    Lenses: objective, for cameras, projectors or photographic enlargers or reducers, mounted, being parts or fittings for...HS 900211

    Comes fromTaiwan 43%, 51 source countries
    Nearest export strengthOptical elements: polarising material, sheets and plates thereof (exports USD 1.7bn)
    Exports of this lineUSD 131m; 2 more lines in the heading, USD 211m
    Countries that export it well12

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 662m, top 4 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to South Korea's export strengths in the top 18 per cent (2); Taiwan supplies 43 per cent (1).

    USD 662mup 1% on 2022
  6. 6

    Units of automatic data processing machines: n.e.c. in item no. 8471.50, 8471.60 or 8471.70HS 847180

    Comes fromChina 71%, 66 source countries
    Nearest export strengthMachinery: parts and accessories (other than covers, carrying cases... (exports USD 17bn)
    Exports of this lineUSD 102m; 7 more lines in the heading, USD 7.7bn
    Countries that export it well8

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 643m, top 4 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to South Korea's export strengths in the top 26 per cent (1); China supplies 71 per cent (2).

    USD 643mdown 5% on 2022
  7. 7

    Vacuum cleaners, with self-contained electric motor, of a power not exceeding 1,500 W and having a dust bag or other...HS 850811

    Comes fromChina 78%, 41 source countries
    Nearest export strengthElectronic integrated circuits: memories (exports USD 75bn)
    Exports of this lineUSD 35m; 2 more lines in the heading, USD 60m
    Countries that export it well10

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 616m, top 4 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to South Korea's export strengths in the top 45 per cent (1); China supplies 78 per cent (2).

    USD 616mup 55% on 2022
  8. 8

    Air conditioning machines: with motor driven fan and elements for temperature control, parts thereofHS 841590

    Comes fromChina 70%, 71 source countries
    Nearest export strengthMachinery: parts and accessories (other than covers, carrying cases... (exports USD 17bn)
    Exports of this lineUSD 926m; 4 more lines in the heading, USD 308m
    Countries that export it well10

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 612m, top 5 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to South Korea's export strengths in the top 31 per cent (1); China supplies 70 per cent (2).

    USD 612mup 17% on 2022
  9. 9

    Polyamides: polyamide-6, -11, -12, -6,6, -6,9, -6,10 or -6,12, in primary formsHS 390810

    Comes fromChina 71%, 36 source countries
    Nearest export strengthPropylene, other olefin polymers: polypropylene in primary forms (exports USD 2.2bn)
    Exports of this lineUSD 321m; 1 more line in the heading, USD 122m
    Countries that export it well15

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 492m, top 6 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to South Korea's export strengths in the top 32 per cent (1); China supplies 71 per cent (2).

    USD 492mdown 5% on 2022
  10. 10

    Iron or non-alloy steel: semi-finished products of iron or non-alloy steel: containing by weight less than 0.25% of...HS 720712

    Comes fromJapan 76%, 6 source countries
    Nearest export strengthIron or non-alloy steel: flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, (not... (exports USD 2.9bn)
    Exports of this lineUSD 275m; 3 more lines in the heading, USD 212m
    Countries that export it well14

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 486m, top 6 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to South Korea's export strengths in the top 31 per cent (1); Japan supplies 76 per cent (2).

    USD 486mdown 30% on 2022
  11. 11

    Electrical apparatus: diodes, other than photosensitive or light-emitting diodes (LED)HS 854110

    Comes fromChina 60%, 59 source countries
    Nearest export strengthElectronic integrated circuits: memories (exports USD 75bn)
    Exports of this lineUSD 325m; 4 more lines in the heading, USD 824m
    Countries that export it well11

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 448m, top 7 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to South Korea's export strengths in the top 12 per cent (2); China supplies 60 per cent (1).

    USD 448mdown 21% on 2022
  12. 12

    Vehicle parts: road wheels and parts and accessories thereofHS 870870

    Comes fromChina 90%, 57 source countries
    Nearest export strengthVehicles: with only spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating... (exports USD 21bn)
    Exports of this lineUSD 342m; 7 more lines in the heading, USD 1.4bn
    Countries that export it well15

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 415m, top 8 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to South Korea's export strengths in the top 43 per cent (1); China supplies 90 per cent (2).

    USD 415mup 16% on 2022
  13. 13

    Reaction initiators, reaction accelerators and catalytic preparations, unsupported, n.e.c. or includedHS 381590

    Comes fromUnited States 69%, 39 source countries
    Nearest export strengthChemical products, mixtures and preparations: n.e.c. heading 3824 (exports USD 2.5bn)
    Exports of this lineUSD 50m; 2 more lines in the heading, USD 536m
    Countries that export it well13

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 328m, top 9 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to South Korea's export strengths in the top 34 per cent (1); United States supplies 69 per cent (2).

    USD 328mdown 14% on 2022
  14. 14

    Magnets: permanent magnets and articles intended to become permanent magnets after magnetisation, of metalHS 850511

    Comes fromChina 87%, 50 source countries
    Nearest export strengthElectronic integrated circuits: memories (exports USD 75bn)
    Exports of this lineUSD 35m; 1 more line in the heading, USD 24m
    Countries that export it well4

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 307m, top 10 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to South Korea's export strengths in the top 18 per cent (2); China supplies 87 per cent (2).

    USD 307mdown 45% on 2022
  15. 15

    Golf clubs: completeHS 950631

    Comes fromJapan 61%, 38 source countries
    Nearest export strengthGolf balls (exports USD 48m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 2m; 9 more lines in the heading, USD 529m
    Countries that export it well8

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 301m, top 10 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to South Korea's export strengths in the top 16 per cent (2); Japan supplies 61 per cent (2).

    USD 301mdown 50% on 2022
  16. 16

    Nonwovens: whether or not impregnated, coated, covered or laminated, not of man-made filaments, (weighing more than...HS 560392

    Comes fromChina 89%, 20 source countries
    Nearest export strengthWadding: other articles thereof, of man-made fibres (exports USD 191m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 17m; 5 more lines in the heading, USD 166m
    Countries that export it well15

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 209m, top 14 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to South Korea's export strengths in the top 24 per cent (2); China supplies 89 per cent (2).

    USD 209mdown 12% on 2022
  17. 17

    Hydrogen fluoride (hydrofluoric acid)HS 281111

    Comes fromChina 75%, 13 source countries
    Nearest export strengthSalts of oxometallic or peroxometallic acids: n.e.c. in heading no.... (exports USD 4.5bn)
    Exports of this lineUSD 13m; 1 more line in the heading, USD 26m
    Countries that export it well7

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 188m, top 16 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to South Korea's export strengths in the top 17 per cent (2); China supplies 75 per cent (2).

    USD 188mdown 17% on 2022
  18. 18

    Electrical capacitors: fixed, aluminium electrolyticHS 853222

    Comes fromChina 67%, 46 source countries
    Nearest export strengthElectronic integrated circuits: memories (exports USD 75bn)
    Exports of this lineUSD 163m; 4 more lines in the heading, USD 140m
    Countries that export it well11

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 185m, top 16 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to South Korea's export strengths in the top 15 per cent (2); China supplies 67 per cent (2).

    USD 185mup 7% on 2022
  19. 19

    Glass fibres: mechanically bonded fabrics and closed woven fabrics, plain weave, of yarns, not coated or laminated...HS 701963

    Comes fromJapan 66%, 15 source countries
    Nearest export strengthGlass of heading no. 7003, 7004 or 7005: bent, edge-worked... (exports USD 454m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 6m; 6 more lines in the heading, USD 274m
    Countries that export it well8

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 139m, top 20 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to South Korea's export strengths in the top 22 per cent (2); Japan supplies 66 per cent (2).

    USD 139mup 29% on 2022
  20. 20

    Steel, alloy: flat-rolled, width less than 600mm, (excluding silicon-electrical or high speed steel), cold-rolledHS 722692

    Comes fromFrance 92%, 9 source countries
    Nearest export strengthIron or non-alloy steel: flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, (not... (exports USD 2.9bn)
    Exports of this lineUSD 26m; 3 more lines in the heading, USD 44m
    Countries that export it well10

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 135m, top 21 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to South Korea's export strengths in the top 24 per cent (2); France supplies 92 per cent (2).

    USD 135mup 141% on 2022

One line per customs heading. Products South Korea already exports well and still imports are below, because they are a different conversation. No employment figures appear on this page, by decision.

Made here already, still imported

Scale conversations, not capability ones.

  • Machines and apparatus of a kind used solely or principally for the... imports USD 12bn, exports USD 2.7bn, top source Netherlands 38%
  • Chemical elements: doped for use in electronics, in the form of discs, wafers... imports USD 2.5bn, exports USD 1.1bn, top source China 34%
  • Instruments and apparatus: for measuring or checking semiconductor wafers or... imports USD 1.2bn, exports USD 328m, top source Malaysia 34%
  • Flat panel display modules, whether or not incorporating touch-sensitive... imports USD 2.4bn, exports USD 1.6bn, top source China 80%
  • Machines and apparatus of heading 8486: parts and accessories imports USD 4.0bn, exports USD 3.6bn, top source United States 35%
  • Machines and apparatus of a kind used solely or principally for the... imports USD 1.6bn, exports USD 1.2bn, top source Singapore 43%
  • Instruments, apparatus for measuring, checking electrical quantities, not... imports USD 828m, exports USD 416m, top source United States 30%
  • Optical elements: n.e.c. in heading no. 9002 (e.g. prisms and mirrors)... imports USD 576m, exports USD 232m, top source Netherlands 49%
  • Cyclic hydrocarbons: styrene imports USD 672m, exports USD 357m, top source Taiwan 37%
  • Electrical inductors: n.e.c. in heading no. 8504 imports USD 716m, exports USD 419m, top source China 34%
How the twenty were chosen

Three scores, each from a field the record carries.

Import bill, 0 to 3, by percentile among the 2287 lines imported at USD 10m or more: above the median one point, top quarter two, top tenth three.

Proximity to export strengths, 0 to 3, on the same percentiles: the product-space method (Hidalgo, Klinger, Barabasi and Hausmann, Science 2007) on CEPII's BACI file of every bilateral trade flow for 2024, 157 countries and 5,388 products. Two products are close when the countries that export one well tend to export the other well. Only products in the upper half for proximity can enter the list at all: best placed is a proximity claim.

Supply concentration, 0 to 2: one point when a single country supplies 40 per cent or more, two at 60 per cent.

Scope. Manufactured goods, customs chapters 16 to 96, excluding ores, fuels and precious metals. Primary agriculture is out of scope for a page about manufacture.

What it cannot tell you

A map of where to look.

Trade data says what crossed the border, not why. Cost, scale, patents, tariffs and the plain fact that a supplier is good at it are all invisible here. The world file reconciles what each pair of countries reports, so a national customs file would differ in detail. Nothing on this page is a forecast or a promise.

Source: CEPII BACI, HS22, version 202601, years 2022 to 2024. Edition of 2026-11-02. The UK edition with its procurement and regional layers is at /made-here/.

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