Ores and metals exports in Korea
Korea: Ores and metals exports was 2.4% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Ores and metals exports in Korea, 1962–2024
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise exports.
Analysis
Korea recorded 2.4% for ores and metals exports in 2024.
That represents a change of down 10.7% on the previous year and up 19.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, ores and metals exports in Korea peaked at 24.4% in 1962 and was at its lowest, 0.7%, in 1986.
Korea ranks 104th of 194 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Ores and metals exports in Korea, year by year
| Year | % of merchandise exports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1962 | 24.4% | — |
| 1963 | 15.9% | -34.7% |
| 1964 | 17.3% | +8.7% |
| 1965 | 14.3% | -17.5% |
| 1966 | 11.3% | -20.9% |
| 1967 | 9.1% | -19.6% |
| 1968 | 7.4% | -18.9% |
| 1969 | 6.3% | -15.0% |
| 1970 | 5.7% | -9.5% |
| 1971 | 3.5% | -39.0% |
| 1972 | 2.4% | -31.4% |
| 1973 | 1.5% | -35.0% |
| 1974 | 1.7% | +7.9% |
| 1975 | 1.3% | -21.8% |
| 1976 | 1.1% | -17.1% |
| 1977 | 1.1% | +2.8% |
| 1978 | 1.0% | -13.5% |
| 1979 | 0.9% | -1.3% |
| 1980 | 1.1% | +19.5% |
| 1981 | 0.9% | -16.2% |
| 1982 | 1.0% | +2.4% |
| 1983 | 1.0% | +7.9% |
| 1984 | 0.7% | -29.5% |
| 1985 | 0.7% | -7.2% |
| 1986 | 0.7% | -3.6% |
| 1987 | 0.7% | +11.5% |
| 1988 | 0.9% | +17.4% |
| 1989 | 1.1% | +22.9% |
| 1990 | 0.8% | -21.4% |
| 1991 | 0.7% | -15.2% |
| 1992 | 0.8% | +17.6% |
| 1993 | 0.8% | -8.1% |
| 1994 | 1.0% | +25.2% |
| 1995 | 1.0% | +5.8% |
| 1996 | 0.9% | -10.7% |
| 1997 | 1.4% | +49.7% |
| 1998 | 1.7% | +23.2% |
| 1999 | 1.4% | -18.6% |
| 2000 | 1.2% | -8.8% |
| 2001 | 1.3% | +1.5% |
| 2002 | 1.3% | +6.4% |
| 2003 | 1.5% | +9.3% |
| 2004 | 1.7% | +13.5% |
| 2005 | 1.7% | +2.2% |
| 2006 | 2.5% | +46.3% |
| 2007 | 2.5% | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 2.2% | -10.6% |
| 2009 | 1.9% | -13.8% |
| 2010 | 2.1% | +8.3% |
| 2011 | 2.3% | +10.0% |
| 2012 | 2.1% | -7.3% |
| 2013 | 2.0% | -6.1% |
| 2014 | 2.0% | +1.5% |
| 2015 | 2.0% | +0.7% |
| 2016 | 2.1% | +2.3% |
| 2017 | 2.0% | -1.0% |
| 2018 | 2.2% | +5.8% |
| 2019 | 2.3% | +4.4% |
| 2020 | 2.6% | +15.4% |
| 2021 | 3.2% | +20.7% |
| 2022 | 3.0% | -5.8% |
| 2023 | 2.7% | -9.5% |
| 2024 | 2.4% | -10.7% |
Korea compared with similar countries
- Korea's 2.4% is below the median for high income countries, which is 2.7%, 89% of the median. (71 countries reporting)
- Korea's 2.4% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 2.4%, 1.0× the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 13.2% | 6.3% | 24.4% | 8 |
| 1970s | 2.0% | 0.9% | 5.7% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.9% | 0.7% | 1.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.0% | 0.7% | 1.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.8% | 1.2% | 2.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.1% | 2.0% | 2.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.8% | 2.4% | 3.2% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Korea
More energy & mining data for Korea
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate -1.55 % change on previous year (2025)
- Coal consumption, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal consumption, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Coal production, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal production, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, per capita 0.0001 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fuel imports 25.7% (2024)
- Ores and metals imports 6.7% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is ores and metals exports in Korea?
- Ores and metals exports in Korea was 2.4% in 2024, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest ores and metals exports recorded in Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 24.4% in 1962.
- What is the lowest ores and metals exports recorded in Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.7% in 1986.
- How does Korea rank for ores and metals exports?
- Korea ranks 104th out of 194 countries with data for 2024.
- Is ores and metals exports rising or falling in Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 19.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division, published as part of Ores and metals exports (% of merchandise exports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Ores and metals comprise the commodities in SITC (Rev. 3) sections 27 (crude fertilizer, minerals nes); 28 (metalliferous ores, scrap); and 68 (non-ferrous metals). Exports of services are services provided by residents to non-residents. This indicator is expressed as a percentage of merchandise exports which is comprised of goods whose economic ownership is changed between a resident and a non-resident and that are not included in the following specific categories: goods under merchanting, non-monetary gold, and parts of travel, construction, and government goods and services n.i.e.