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Russian foreign trade
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Russian trade with South Korea in 2018

by Russian Foreign Trade
based on data from the Federal Customs Service of Russia
The Report on Russia’s foreign trade in goods with South Korea in 2018: exports, imports, products, dynamics.

Russia’s Trade with South Korea

In 2018, Russia’s trade with South Korea totaled $24,841,134,041, up 28.85% ($5,562,436,646) from 2017.

Russia’s exports to South Korea in 2018 totaled $17,832,180,619, up 44.44% ($5,486,842,469) from 2017.

Russia’s imports from South Korea in 2018 totaled $7,008,953,422, up 1.09% ($75,594,177) from 2017.

Russia’s trade surplus with South Korea in 2018 was $10,823,227,197, a 99.99% increase ($5,411,248,292) over 2017.

South Korea was Russia’s 8th largest trading partner in 2018 (just as in 2017), accounting for 3.6100% of Russia’s total trade (up from 3.3009% in 2017).

South Korea was Russia’s 6th largest export market in 2018 (up from 7th in 2017), accounting for 3.9630% of Russia’s total exports (up from 3.4573% in 2017).

South Korea was Russia’s 8th largest supplier in 2018 (just as in 2017), accounting for 2.9431% of Russia’s total imports (down from 3.0548% in 2017).

Russia’s Exports to South Korea

The major share of Russian exports to South Korea in 2018 (and in 2017) was accounted for the following product types:

  • Mineral products (HS codes 25-27) - 82.84% of Russia’s total exports to South Korea (73.43% in 2017);
  • Food products and agricultural raw materials (HS codes 01-24) - 8.89% of Russia’s total exports to South Korea (11.83% in 2017);
  • Metals and products from them (HS codes 72-83) - 3.64% of Russia’s total exports to South Korea (6.37% in 2017);
  • Chemical products (HS codes 28-40) - 1.64% of Russia’s total exports to South Korea (2.67% in 2017);
  • Wood and wood products (HS codes 44-49) - 1.40% of Russia’s total exports to South Korea (1.65% in 2017);
  • Precious metals and stones (HS code 71) - 0.96% of Russia’s total exports to South Korea (1.42% in 2017);
  • Machinery, equipment and vehicles (HS codes 84-90) - 0.54% of Russia’s total exports to South Korea (2.52% in 2017).

The largest gains in Russia’s exports to South Korea in 2018 over 2017 were recorded for the following product groups:

  • Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes (HS code 27) - an increase of $5,702,040,847;
  • Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates (HS code 03) - an increase of $179,902,065.

The largest declines in Russia’s exports to South Korea in 2018 over 2017 were recorded for the following product groups:

  • Ships, boats and floating structures (HS code 89) - a decrease of $202,961,203;
  • Aluminum and articles thereof (HS code 76) - a decrease of $188,162,502.
Russia’s exports to South Korea in 2018 by product groups
HS
code
Name of product group Value of exports
in 2018,
US dollars ($)
Percent share in total export Value of exports
in 2017,
US dollars ($)
Percent change
in 2018
over 2017
01 Live animals 560 0.00 101454.46
02 Meat and edible meat offal 115,856 0.00 3,112,559-96.28
03 Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates 1,370,649,410 7.69 1,190,747,34515.11
04 Dairy produce; birds eggs; natural honey; edible products of animal origin, not elsewhere specified or included 15,896 0.00 0
05 Products of animal origin, not elsewhere specified or included 1,700,960 0.01 4,585,041-62.90
07 Edible vegetables and certain roots and tubers 47,321 0.00 478,385-90.11
08 Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or melons 49,946 0.00 59,649-16.27
09 Coffee, tea, maté and spices 313,404 0.00 3,9227,890.92
10 Cereals 161,237,587 0.90 198,094,692-18.61
11 Products of the milling industry; malt; starches; inulin; wheat gluten 47,246 0.00 85,357-44.65
12 Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits; miscellaneous grains, seeds and fruits; industrial or medicinal plants; straw and fodder 6,658,703 0.04 1,547,770330.21
13 Lac; gums, resins and other vegetable saps and extracts 722,414 0.00 1,213,689-40.48
14 Vegetable plaiting materials; vegetable products not elsewhere specified or included 149,441 0.00 85,84874.08
15 Animal or vegetable fats and oils and their cleavage products prepared edible fats; animal or vegetable waxes 522,453 0.00 121,355330.52
16 Preparations of meat, of fish or of crustaceans, molluscs or other aquatic invertebrates 851,402 0.00 1,019,730-16.51
17 Sugars and sugar confectionery 0 0.00 12,054-100.00
18 Cocoa and cocoa preparations 567,257 0.00 688,487-17.61
19 Preparations of cereals, flour, starch or milk; bakers’ wares 77,628 0.00 100,337-22.63
20 Preparations of vegetables, fruit, nuts or other parts of plants 93,890 0.00 52,46978.94
21 Miscellaneous edible preparations 2,226,647 0.01 3,417,546-34.85
22 Beverages, spirits and vinegar 817,283 0.00 1,051,166-22.25
23 Residues and waste from the food industries; prepared animal feed 36,339,594 0.20 41,890,286-13.25
24 Tobacco and manufactured tobacco substitutes 2,046,270 0.01 11,805,729-82.67
25 Salt; sulfur; earths and stone; plastering materials, lime and cement 59,913 0.00 139,834-57.15
26 Ores, slag and ash 102,126,757 0.57 98,015,5544.19
27 Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes 14,669,456,784 82.26 8,967,415,93763.59
28 Inorganic chemicals; organic or inorganic compounds of precious metals, of rare-earth metals,of radioactive elements or of isotopes 206,158,655 1.16 253,429,163-18.65
29 Organic chemicals 18,386,248 0.10 13,438,72536.82
30 Pharmaceutical products 23,291,351 0.13 16,648,17739.90
31 Fertilizers 2,679,526 0.02 0
32 Tanning or dyeing extracts; dyes, pigments, paints, varnishes, putty and mastics 7,596,026 0.04 11,578,163-34.39
33 Essential oils and resinoids; perfumery, cosmetic or toilet preparations 76,227 0.00 103,081-26.05
34 Soap, organic surface-active agents, washing preparations, lubricating preparations, artificial waxes, prepared waxes, polishing or scouring preparations, candles and similar articles, modeling pastes, "dental waxes" and dental preparations with a basis of plaster 422,677 0.00 200,532110.78
35 Albuminoidal substances; modified starches; glues; enzymes 1,274 0.00 8,961-85.78
36 Explosives; pyrotechnic products; matches; pyrophoric alloys; certain combustible preparations 80,570 0.00 49,37663.18
38 Miscellaneous chemical products 878,510 0.00 1,341,934-34.53
39 Plastics and articles thereof 19,548,908 0.11 14,925,50930.98
40 Rubber and articles thereof 13,732,193 0.08 17,575,409-21.87
42 Articles of leather; saddlery and harness; travel goods, handbags and similar containers; articles of animal gut (other than silkworm gut) 3,635 0.00 928291.70
43 Furskins and artificial fur; manufactures thereof 209,609 0.00 70,320198.08
44 Wood and articles of wood; wood charcoal 122,893,216 0.69 119,031,1393.24
47 Pulp of wood or of other fibrous cellulosic material; waste and scrap of paper or paperboard 114,326,270 0.64 73,266,20256.04
48 Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp, of paper or of paperboard 10,516,450 0.06 9,445,17511.34
49 Printed books, newspapers, pictures and other products of the printing industry; manuscripts, typescripts and plans 2,244,919 0.01 2,327,365-3.54
52 Cotton 108 0.00 580-81.38
54 Man-made filaments 1,434,073 0.01 973,03047.38
55 Man-made staple fibers 0 0.00 66-100.00
56 Wadding, felt and nonwovens; special yarns, twine, cordage, ropes and cables and articles thereof 2,940,318 0.02 2,306,43127.48
57 Carpets and other textile floor coverings 192 0.00 131,376.92
58 Special woven fabrics; tufted textile fabrics; lace, tapestries; trimmings; embroidery 13,855 0.00 2784,883.81
59 Impregnated, coated, covered or laminated textile fabrics; textile articles of a kind suitable for industrial use 37,484 0.00 4,390753.85
61 Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, knitted or crocheted 151,811 0.00 48,079215.75
62 Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, not knitted or crocheted 164,876 0.00 44,999266.40
63 Other made up textile articles; sets; worn clothing and worn textile articles; rags 183,961 0.00 102,90778.76
64 Footwear, gaiters and the like; parts of such articles 267,794 0.00 202,42432.29
65 Headgear and parts thereof 18,502 0.00 2,459652.42
68 Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, mica or similar materials 204,404 0.00 181,03612.91
69 Ceramic products 934,311 0.01 1,319,515-29.19
70 Glass and glassware 911,769 0.01 1,181,703-22.84
71 Natural or cultured pearls, precious or semi-precious stones,precious metals, metals clad with precious metal and articles thereof; imitation jewelry; coin 170,820,007 0.96 175,260,277-2.53
72 Iron and steel 366,583,817 2.06 334,946,2669.45
73 Articles of iron or steel 33,712,569 0.19 8,746,392285.45
74 Copper and articles thereof 406,756 0.00 361,81312.42
75 Nickel and articles thereof 38,294 0.00 424,901-90.99
76 Aluminum and articles thereof 238,517,825 1.34 426,680,327-44.10
78 Lead and articles thereof 78 0.00 17,700.00
80 Tin and articles thereof 271,046 0.00 291,777-7.11
81 Other base metals; cermets; articles thereof 8,465,825 0.05 13,317,456-36.43
82 Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks, of base metal; parts thereof of base metal 256,793 0.00 996,112-74.22
83 Miscellaneous articles of base metal 2,468 0.00 26,086-90.54
84 Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof 26,683,262 0.15 26,138,9032.08
85 Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers, television image and sound recorders and reproducers, and parts and accessories of such articles 15,215,871 0.09 23,736,118-35.90
86 Railway or tramway locomotives, rolling-stock and parts thereof; railway or tramway track fixtures and fittings and parts thereof; mechanical (including electro-mechanical) traffic signalling equipment of all kinds 601,014 0.00 914,207-34.26
87 Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories thereof 11,321,088 0.06 9,336,74121.25
89 Ships, boats and floating structures 35,367,392 0.20 238,328,595-85.16
90 Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof 6,340,330 0.04 12,959,056-51.07
91 Clocks and watches and parts thereof 21,350 0.00 31,657-32.56
92 Musical instruments; parts and accessories of such articles 5,093 0.00 0
94 Furniture; bedding, mattresses, mattress supports, cushions and similar stuffed furnishings; lamps and lighting fittings, not elsewhere specified or included; illuminated sign illuminated nameplates and the like; prefabricated buildings 454,197 0.00 615,718-26.23
95 Toys, games and sports requisites; parts and accessories thereof 1,889,791 0.01 913,203106.94
96 Miscellaneous manufactured articles 11,908 0.00 7,36761.64
97 Works of art, collectors’ pieces and antiques 20,760 0.00 11018,772.73
SS Classified 7,968,741 0.04 5 752 15638.53

Russia’s Imports from South Korea

The major share of Russian imports from South Korea in 2018 (and in 2017) was accounted for the following product types:

  • Machinery, equipment and vehicles (HS codes 84-90) - 62.12% of Russia’s total imports from South Korea (67.91% in 2017);
  • Chemical products (HS codes 28-40) - 18.71% of Russia’s total imports from South Korea (15.15% in 2017);
  • Metals and products from them (HS codes 72-83) - 9.20% of Russia’s total imports from South Korea (7.94% in 2017);
  • Food products and agricultural raw materials (HS codes 01-24) - 2.18% of Russia’s total imports from South Korea (1.84% in 2017);
  • Textiles, textile products and footwear (HS codes 50-67) - 2.01% of Russia’s total imports from South Korea (1.77% in 2017);
  • Mineral products (HS codes 25-27) - 1.16% of Russia’s total imports from South Korea (1.10% in 2017).

The largest gains in Russia’s imports from South Korea in 2018 over 2017 were recorded for the following product groups:

  • Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories thereof (HS code 87) - an increase of $380,286,677;
  • Plastics and articles thereof (HS code 39) - an increase of $113,044,329;
  • Organic chemicals (HS code 29) - an increase of $76,134,717;
  • Iron and steel (HS code 72) - an increase of $74,012,386;
  • Essential oils and resinoids; perfumery, cosmetic or toilet preparations (HS code 33) - an increase of $50,041,038;
  • Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof (HS code 90) - an increase of $30,854,562;
  • Articles of iron or steel (HS code 73) - an increase of $27,908,524.

The largest declines in Russia’s imports from South Korea in 2018 over 2017 were recorded for the following product groups:

  • Ships, boats and floating structures (HS code 89) - a decrease of $558,855,473;
  • Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof (HS code 84) - a decrease of $226,835,916.
Russia’s imports from South Korea in 2018 by product groups
HS
code
Name of product group Value of imports in 2018,
US dollars ($)
Percent share in total import Value of imports in 2017,
US dollars ($)
Percent change
in 2018
over 2017
03 Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates 7,681,819 0.11 5,046,43652.22
04 Dairy produce; birds eggs; natural honey; edible products of animal origin, not elsewhere specified or included 0 0.00 4,642-100.00
05 Products of animal origin, not elsewhere specified or included 15 0.00 576-97.40
06 Live trees and other plants; bulbs, roots and the like; cut flowers and ornamental foliage 10,074 0.00 30,285-66.74
07 Edible vegetables and certain roots and tubers 54,197 0.00 41,42930.82
08 Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or melons 835,229 0.01 757,64010.24
09 Coffee, tea, maté and spices 60,122 0.00 94,403-36.31
10 Cereals 132,290 0.00 118,87811.28
11 Products of the milling industry; malt; starches; inulin; wheat gluten 12,463 0.00 9,93125.50
12 Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits; miscellaneous grains, seeds and fruits; industrial or medicinal plants; straw and fodder 7,545,068 0.11 5,095,04148.09
13 Lac; gums, resins and other vegetable saps and extracts 73,656 0.00 62,91717.07
14 Vegetable plaiting materials; vegetable products not elsewhere specified or included 2,362 0.00 19,113-87.64
15 Animal or vegetable fats and oils and their cleavage products prepared edible fats; animal or vegetable waxes 979,934 0.01 1,379,124-28.95
16 Preparations of meat, of fish or of crustaceans, molluscs or other aquatic invertebrates 310,255 0.00 8,0903,735.04
17 Sugars and sugar confectionery 1,456,383 0.02 1,266,60514.98
18 Cocoa and cocoa preparations 1,208,220 0.02 1,114,8518.38
19 Preparations of cereals, flour, starch or milk; bakers’ wares 19,526,969 0.28 14,575,49133.97
20 Preparations of vegetables, fruit, nuts or other parts of plants 5,582,121 0.08 3,797,36447.00
21 Miscellaneous edible preparations 56,109,512 0.80 42,339,80632.52
22 Beverages, spirits and vinegar 29,295,027 0.42 21,598,61435.63
23 Residues and waste from the food industries; prepared animal feed 530,850 0.01 479,99310.60
24 Tobacco and manufactured tobacco substitutes 21,202,137 0.30 29,628,435-28.44
25 Salt; sulfur; earths and stone; plastering materials, lime and cement 286,170 0.00 109,862160.48
27 Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes 80,894,497 1.15 76,410,3045.87
28 Inorganic chemicals; organic or inorganic compounds of precious metals, of rare-earth metals,of radioactive elements or of isotopes 44,381,544 0.63 50,946,697-12.89
29 Organic chemicals 187,127,097 2.67 110,992,38068.59
30 Pharmaceutical products 39,474,698 0.56 22,257,96177.35
31 Fertilizers 2,689 0.00 1,309105.42
32 Tanning or dyeing extracts; dyes, pigments, paints, varnishes, putty and mastics 26,261,354 0.37 24,355,4287.83
33 Essential oils and resinoids; perfumery, cosmetic or toilet preparations 124,742,353 1.78 74,701,31566.99
34 Soap, organic surface-active agents, washing preparations, lubricating preparations, artificial waxes, prepared waxes, polishing or scouring preparations, candles and similar articles, modeling pastes, "dental waxes" and dental preparations with a basis of plaster 36,051,763 0.51 28,517,63426.42
35 Albuminoidal substances; modified starches; glues; enzymes 6,955,258 0.10 5,776,62720.40
36 Explosives; pyrotechnic products; matches; pyrophoric alloys; certain combustible preparations 0 0.00 50-100.00
37 Photographic or cinematographic goods 1,258,424 0.02 1,165,6017.96
38 Miscellaneous chemical products 38,408,555 0.55 31,480,14622.01
39 Plastics and articles thereof 576,896,857 8.23 463,852,52824.37
40 Rubber and articles thereof 229,546,882 3.28 236,405,303-2.90
41 Raw hides and skins (other than furskins) and leather 2,636,530 0.04 3,869,964-31.87
42 Articles of leather; saddlery and harness; travel goods, handbags and similar containers; articles of animal gut (other than silkworm gut) 9,554,632 0.14 6,550,42645.86
43 Furskins and artificial fur; manufactures thereof 51,315 0.00 42,53820.63
44 Wood and articles of wood; wood charcoal 293,918 0.00 291,8120.72
45 Cork and articles of cork 15,531 0.00 7,708101.49
46 Manufactures of straw, of esparto or of other plaiting materials; basketware and wickerwork 10,880 0.00 87,643-87.59
48 Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp, of paper or of paperboard 59,944,330 0.86 47,780,97425.46
49 Printed books, newspapers, pictures and other products of the printing industry; manuscripts, typescripts and plans 3,834,689 0.05 3,402,40512.71
50 Silk 419 0.00 6,102-93.13
51 Wool, fine or coarse animal hair; horsehair yarn and woven fabric 34,310 0.00 62,603-45.19
52 Cotton 2,609,699 0.04 2,029,45128.59
53 Other vegetable textile fibers; paper yarn and woven fabric of paper yarn 61,710 0.00 129,098-52.20
54 Man-made filaments 12,765,439 0.18 13,141,267-2.86
55 Man-made staple fibers 49,530,680 0.71 37,059,92533.65
56 Wadding, felt and nonwovens; special yarns, twine, cordage, ropes and cables and articles thereof 24,176,653 0.34 19,560,58723.60
57 Carpets and other textile floor coverings 129,740 0.00 110,20517.73
58 Special woven fabrics; tufted textile fabrics; lace, tapestries; trimmings; embroidery 1,171,039 0.02 1,276,115-8.23
59 Impregnated, coated, covered or laminated textile fabrics; textile articles of a kind suitable for industrial use 27,229,957 0.39 24,062,00813.17
60 Knitted or crocheted fabrics 7,268,583 0.10 7,638,100-4.84
61 Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, knitted or crocheted 2,235,732 0.03 4,589,513-51.29
62 Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, not knitted or crocheted 1,619,895 0.02 1,920,131-15.64
63 Other made up textile articles; sets; worn clothing and worn textile articles; rags 10,859,289 0.15 9,976,7848.85
64 Footwear, gaiters and the like; parts of such articles 952,827 0.01 812,94117.21
65 Headgear and parts thereof 111,339 0.00 118,741-6.23
66 Umbrellas, sun umbrellas, walking sticks, seatsticks, whips, riding-crops and parts thereof 24,079 0.00 10,399131.55
67 Prepared feathers and down and articles made of feathers or of down; artificial flowers; articles of human hair 368,310 0.01 431,387-14.62
68 Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, mica or similar materials 14,344,138 0.20 14,242,2510.72
69 Ceramic products 1,313,322 0.02 1,794,864-26.83
70 Glass and glassware 29,814,222 0.43 30,273,425-1.52
71 Natural or cultured pearls, precious or semi-precious stones,precious metals, metals clad with precious metal and articles thereof; imitation jewelry; coin 1,223,734 0.02 882,20838.71
72 Iron and steel 325,255,576 4.64 251,243,19029.46
73 Articles of iron or steel 170,795,578 2.44 142,887,05419.53
74 Copper and articles thereof 3,376,280 0.05 3,696,316-8.66
75 Nickel and articles thereof 28,736 0.00 48,840-41.16
76 Aluminum and articles thereof 12,028,657 0.17 13,157,997-8.58
78 Lead and articles thereof 283 0.00 9,487-97.02
79 Zinc and articles thereof 2,834,223 0.04 2,098,41535.06
80 Tin and articles thereof 1,046 0.00 15,016-93.03
81 Other base metals; cermets; articles thereof 4,395,550 0.06 2,719,95761.60
82 Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks, of base metal; parts thereof of base metal 55,748,579 0.80 71,715,059-22.26
83 Miscellaneous articles of base metal 70,158,055 1.00 62,769,10911.77
84 Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof 1,182,386,502 16.87 1,409,222,418-16.10
85 Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers, television image and sound recorders and reproducers, and parts and accessories of such articles 922,122,427 13.16 902,082,6632.22
86 Railway or tramway locomotives, rolling-stock and parts thereof; railway or tramway track fixtures and fittings and parts thereof; mechanical (including electro-mechanical) traffic signalling equipment of all kinds 1,074,725 0.02 1,005,8736.84
87 Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories thereof 2,001,994,295 28.56 1,621,707,61823.45
89 Ships, boats and floating structures 24,288,412 0.35 583,143,885-95.83
90 Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof 221,886,429 3.17 191,031,86716.15
91 Clocks and watches and parts thereof 999,947 0.01 1,645,219-39.22
92 Musical instruments; parts and accessories of such articles 928,272 0.01 1,005,793-7.71
94 Furniture; bedding, mattresses, mattress supports, cushions and similar stuffed furnishings; lamps and lighting fittings, not elsewhere specified or included; illuminated sign illuminated nameplates and the like; prefabricated buildings 164,781,032 2.35 147,901,30311.41
95 Toys, games and sports requisites; parts and accessories thereof 6,317,043 0.09 2,581,036144.75
96 Miscellaneous manufactured articles 17,610,497 0.25 16,284,9988.14
SS Classified 10,857,493 0.15 18 781 748-42.19
Russian foreign trade statistics
Source: Federal Customs Service of Russia