globaltraffic.earth

Trade between China and South Korea

In 2024, China exported $139 billion to South Korea and imported $155.2 billion. China ran a deficit of $16.2 billion with South Korea, compared with a deficit of $41 billion in 2019. South Korea was China’s 4th largest trading partner (5% of its trade), and China was South Korea’s largest (21%).

Summary

China → South Korea
$139billion
South Korea → China
$155.2billion
China’s balance
-$16.2billion

Balance

China’s trade balance with South Korea

Trade between China and South Korea grew 16.1-fold since 1995

USD billions (current). China’s exports and imports; bars: its balance (green surplus, red deficit).

  • Exports 139
  • Imports 155
  • Balance -16.2

Source: CEPII BACI

Show the numbers
YearExportsImportsTrade balance
1995$7.7 billion$10.5 billion-$2.8 billion
1996$8.8 billion$12.9 billion-$4.1 billion
1997$10.2 billion$15.5 billion-$5.3 billion
1998$6.7 billion$14.5 billion-$7.8 billion
1999$9 billion$16.6 billion-$7.6 billion
2000$13 billion$22.2 billion-$9.2 billion
2001$13.5 billion$21.9 billion-$8.5 billion
2002$17.6 billion$27.9 billion-$10.3 billion
2003$21.5 billion$42 billion-$20.5 billion
2004$30.1 billion$56.5 billion-$26.5 billion
2005$37.7 billion$65.7 billion-$28.1 billion
2006$47.7 billion$81.4 billion-$33.7 billion
2007$61.7 billion$98 billion-$36.3 billion
2008$74.9 billion$106.1 billion-$31.2 billion
2009$52.5 billion$95.8 billion-$43.3 billion
2010$70.4 billion$126.3 billion-$56 billion
2011$83.5 billion$146.6 billion-$63.1 billion
2012$79.5 billion$134.4 billion-$54.9 billion
2013$82.3 billion$146.4 billion-$64.1 billion
2014$90 billion$146.6 billion-$56.6 billion
2015$90.6 billion$135.3 billion-$44.7 billion
2016$88.2 billion$123.4 billion-$35.2 billion
2017$98.8 billion$155.4 billion-$56.7 billion
2018$107.1 billion$178.6 billion-$71.5 billion
2019$110.1 billion$151.2 billion-$41 billion
2020$108.4 billion$148.4 billion-$40 billion
2021$138.1 billion$182.9 billion-$44.8 billion
2022$148.8 billion$171.5 billion-$22.7 billion
2023$140.1 billion$137.2 billion$2.9 billion
2024$139 billion$155.2 billion-$16.2 billion

What they sell each other

What China sells to South Korea

The top 10 headings in 2024, with their share of the total.

  1. Microchips$19.4 billion · 14%
    4 thousand tonnes · China’s destinations
  2. Cameras and broadcast equipment$6.3 billion · 4.6%
    40 thousand tonnes
  3. Batteries$4.3 billion · 3.1%
    177 thousand tonnes · China’s destinations
  4. Computers$3.9 billion · 2.8%
    16 thousand tonnes · China’s destinations
  5. Computer and office machine parts$3.7 billion · 2.6%
    61 thousand tonnes
  6. Auto parts$2.4 billion · 1.7%
    318 thousand tonnes · China’s destinations
  7. Cables and wire$2.3 billion · 1.7%
    141 thousand tonnes · China’s destinations
  8. Steel structures$1.8 billion · 1.3%
    1 million tonnes
  9. Transformers and power supplies$1.7 billion · 1.3%
    78 thousand tonnes
  10. Diodes, transistors and solar cells$1.6 billion · 1.2%
    174 thousand tonnes

What South Korea sells to China

The top 10 headings in 2024, with their share of the total.

  1. Microchips$63.6 billion · 41%
    5 thousand tonnes · South Korea’s destinations
  2. Parts for broadcast equipment$7.8 billion · 5%
    3 thousand tonnes
  3. Cyclic hydrocarbons$6 billion · 3.8%
    6.2 million tonnes
  4. Cameras and broadcast equipment$5.6 billion · 3.6%
    29 thousand tonnes
  5. Other industrial machines$5 billion · 3.2%
    61 thousand tonnes
  6. Computer and office machine parts$4.5 billion · 2.9%
    4 thousand tonnes
  7. Open-chain hydrocarbons$2.9 billion · 1.9%
    3.3 million tonnes
  8. Refined petroleum$2.8 billion · 1.8%
    3.6 million tonnes · South Korea’s destinations
  9. Polyethylene$2.5 billion · 1.6%
    2.1 million tonnes · South Korea’s destinations
  10. Makeup and skin care$2 billion · 1.3%
    55 thousand tonnes · South Korea’s destinations

How it travels

Estimated sea route from Shanghai to Busan.

The estimated sea route between Shanghai and Busan is 497 nautical miles (921 km) long: ≈ 1–1.5 days at sea (at 18 and 14 knots).

It does not cross any major canal or strait.

Sailing estimate without port calls, waiting or transshipment; not a schedule. One main reference port per country: in large countries it does not represent all of its ports.

Split by transport mode

  1. Sea$148.3 billion · 50.4%
  2. Air$145.9 billion · 49.6%

Mode estimated from value per kilo and geography; both directions together.

How much each matters to the other

South Korea was China’s 4th largest trading partner (5% of its trade), and China was South Korea’s largest (21%).

South Korea in China’s trade
5.1%
South Korea’s rank among China’s partners
4th
China in South Korea’s trade
21.2%
China’s rank among South Korea’s partners
1st

Compare with

Other partners of China

Other partners of South Korea

Sources and methodology

Sources and licenses

Methodology

Goods trade from CEPII BACI (BACI_HS92_V202601), in current US dollars, with exports and imports reconciled between countries. The transport mode is our own estimate based on value per kilo and geography. The sea route comes from our own network derived from World Bank shipping density (not from nautical charts), between one main reference port per country (World Port Index); days are the distance at 14 and 18 knots, without port calls or waiting. Data up to 2024.