Ores and metals exports (% of merchandise exports) in South Korea
South Korea: Ores and metals exports (% of merchandise exports) was 2.6% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Ores and metals exports in South Korea, 1962–2025
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise exports.
Analysis
South Korea recorded 2.6% for ores and metals exports in 2025.
That represents a change of up 8.2% on the previous year and up 28.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, ores and metals exports in South Korea peaked at 24.4% in 1962 and was at its lowest, 0.7%, in 1986.
South Korea ranks 102nd 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 (% of merchandise exports) in South 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% |
| 2025 | 2.6% | +8.2% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 2.6% is below the median for high income countries, which is 2.7%, 96% of the median. (71 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 2.6% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 3.0%, 88% of 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 | 2.7% | 2.4% | 3.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More energy & mining data for South Korea
- Primary energy from fossil nuclear renewables, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fuel imports 22.2% (2025)
- Ores and metals imports 7.2% (2025)
- Fuel exports 6.7% (2025)
- Gas production 0 terawatt-hours (2024)
- Fossil fuel production per person, by fuel 0 kilowatt-hours per person (2024)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel 0 terawatt-hours (2024)
- Gas production per person 0 kilowatt-hours per person (2024)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is ores and metals exports in South Korea?
- Ores and metals exports in South Korea was 2.6% in 2025, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest ores and metals exports recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 24.4% in 1962.
- What is the lowest ores and metals exports recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.7% in 1986.
- How does South Korea rank for ores and metals exports?
- South Korea ranks 102nd out of 194 countries with data for 2025.
- Is ores and metals exports rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 28.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 64 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
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.