globaltraffic.earth

Trade between France and South Korea

In 2024, France exported $8 billion to South Korea and imported $8.1 billion. France ran a deficit of $83 million with South Korea, compared with a surplus of $1.4 billion in 2019. South Korea was France’s 18th largest trading partner (1% of its trade), and France was South Korea’s 17th (1%).

Summary

France → South Korea
$8billion
South Korea → France
$8.1billion
France’s balance
-$83million

Balance

France’s trade balance with South Korea

Trade between France and South Korea grew 4-fold since 1995

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

  • Exports 8
  • Imports 8.1
  • Balance -0.1

Source: CEPII BACI

Show the numbers
YearExportsImportsTrade balance
1995$2 billion$2 billion-$16 million
1996$2.2 billion$1.7 billion$549 million
1997$2 billion$1.8 billion$178 million
1998$1.8 billion$1.7 billion$107 million
1999$1.8 billion$2 billion-$129 million
2000$2.7 billion$2.3 billion$353 million
2001$2.3 billion$2.3 billion$45 million
2002$2.4 billion$2.2 billion$266 million
2003$2.3 billion$2.5 billion-$118 million
2004$2.6 billion$3.9 billion-$1.2 billion
2005$3.1 billion$4.6 billion-$1.5 billion
2006$3.7 billion$5.4 billion-$1.7 billion
2007$4.3 billion$5.5 billion-$1.2 billion
2008$4.9 billion$5.9 billion-$969 million
2009$4.2 billion$4.5 billion-$258 million
2010$4.7 billion$4.1 billion$626 million
2011$6.3 billion$7.3 billion-$980 million
2012$4.9 billion$4.5 billion$407 million
2013$6 billion$5.1 billion$878 million
2014$7 billion$4.2 billion$2.8 billion
2015$6.1 billion$3.4 billion$2.7 billion
2016$5.7 billion$3.4 billion$2.3 billion
2017$6.4 billion$3.9 billion$2.6 billion
2018$6 billion$4.6 billion$1.4 billion
2019$6 billion$4.6 billion$1.4 billion
2020$6.2 billion$3.6 billion$2.6 billion
2021$6.5 billion$5.4 billion$1.1 billion
2022$7.5 billion$7.4 billion$47 million
2023$7.8 billion$10.5 billion-$2.7 billion
2024$8 billion$8.1 billion-$83 million

What they sell each other

What France sells to South Korea

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

  1. Airplanes and helicopters$1.1 billion · 14.2%
    1 thousand tonnes · France’s destinations
  2. Bags, suitcases and cases$649 million · 8.1%
    348 tonnes
  3. Medicines in measured doses or retail packs$377 million · 4.7%
    6 thousand tonnes · France’s destinations
  4. Microchips$366 million · 4.6%
    2 thousand tonnes · France’s destinations
  5. Jewelry$363 million · 4.5%
    6 tonnes · France’s destinations
  6. Makeup and skin care$306 million · 3.8%
    6 thousand tonnes · France’s destinations
  7. Air pumps, compressors and fans$187 million · 2.3%
    3 thousand tonnes
  8. Wine$177 million · 2.2%
    9 thousand tonnes · France’s destinations
  9. Water heaters and industrial dryers$151 million · 1.9%
    2 thousand tonnes
  10. Diodes, transistors and solar cells$149 million · 1.9%
    5 tonnes

What South Korea sells to France

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

  1. Cargo and cruise ships$2.2 billion · 27.5%
    1.3 million tonnes · South Korea’s destinations
  2. Cars$1.3 billion · 16.5%
    87 thousand tonnes · South Korea’s destinations
  3. Refined petroleum$510 million · 6.3%
    481 thousand tonnes · South Korea’s destinations
  4. Vaccines, blood and antisera$329 million · 4.1%
    16 tonnes · South Korea’s destinations
  5. Other industrial machines$299 million · 3.7%
    8 thousand tonnes
  6. Microchips$265 million · 3.3%
    78 tonnes · South Korea’s destinations
  7. Cameras and broadcast equipment$264 million · 3.3%
    285 tonnes
  8. Monitors and projectors$206 million · 2.5%
    6 thousand tonnes · France’s sources
  9. Makeup and skin care$146 million · 1.8%
    2 thousand tonnes · South Korea’s destinations
  10. Auto parts$134 million · 1.7%
    16 thousand tonnes · South Korea’s destinations

How it travels

Estimated sea route from Le Havre to Busan.

The estimated sea route between Le Havre and Busan is 14,302 nautical miles (26,488 km) long: ≈ 33–42.5 days at sea (at 18 and 14 knots).

Because of the 2024 disruptions, traffic is split: 85% via the Cape of Good Hope and the Strait of Malacca and Singapore (14,302 nautical miles); and 15% via the Strait of Gibraltar, the Suez Canal, the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait and the Strait of Malacca and Singapore (10,865 nautical miles).

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$8.3 billion · 51.5%
  2. Air$7.8 billion · 48.5%

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

How much each matters to the other

South Korea was France’s 18th largest trading partner (1% of its trade), and France was South Korea’s 17th (1%).

South Korea in France’s trade
1.2%
South Korea’s rank among France’s partners
18th
France in South Korea’s trade
1.2%
France’s rank among South Korea’s partners
17th

Compare with

Other partners of France

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.