South Korea's foreign trade
Main article: South Korea's Foreign Trade
2025
Trade turnover of Russia and South Korea for the year decreased by 4% to $10.9 billion
The volume of mutual trade between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Korea at the end of 2025 reached $10.9 billion. The indicator decreased by 4% compared to the level of 2024. This is evidenced by preliminary data from the Customs Service of the Republic of Korea, published in January 2026.
As the telegram channel "Trade without Borders" transmits, the trade balance maintains a pronounced surplus in favor of the Russian side. Its value is about $2.8 billion. Domestic supplies to the Asian state remained at $6.9 billion. Exports from South Korea to the Russian Federation decreased by 11% and amounted to $4 billion.
The commodity structure of Russian exports is highly concentrated. The five leading positions form over 90% of the total imports of the Republic of Korea from the Russian Federation. The key delivery items are:
- fuel and energy goods (coal, natural gas) - 51%;
- aluminium - 19%;
- fish and seafood - 14%;
- inorganic chemistry products (uranium) - 5%;
- wood and woodworking products - 4%;
- ferrous metals - 3%.
The aluminum segment showed the greatest dynamics. The value of its exports increased by 51% and reached $1.3 billion. The Russian Federation ranked first among suppliers of these products in physical terms with an indicator of 483 thousand tons. The country was ahead of Australia and China. The share of aluminum in the supply structure increased by 6 percentage points.
Supplies of fish and seafood remain one of the most stable export items. Their cost amounted to $943 million. Crabs and ice cream fish form the basis of this category. Uranium exports, on the contrary, decreased by 48% to $356 million. Its share in the overall structure decreased by 5 percentage points.
South Korean exports to Russia are characterized by greater diversification. The basis of deliveries is formed by wheeled vehicles with a share of 28%. That figure rose 11 percentage points. In value terms, the segment increased by 46% to $1.2 billion. Cosmetic products account for 11% of supplies. Mechanical equipment and machinery account for 10%. Plastics and products made of them have a similar share. Medical equipment and devices account for 7%, oil products - 5%.[1]
Imports of used cars from South Korea to Russia for the year increased by 99% and reached 110.7 thousand units
At the end of 2025, imports of used cars from South Korea to Russia increased by 99%, reaching a volume of 110.7 thousand units. The total import of used cars from this country has almost doubled compared to the 2024 result of 55.5 thousand units. This was announced by the director of the analytical agency "Autostat" Sergei Tselikov in his Telegram channel on January 30, 2026.
The leaders of imports at the end of the year were cars of KIA, BMW and Hyundai brands. The five most imported models included:
- Hyundai Palisade (7047 шт.).
- KIA Carnival (5789 units).
- KIA Sorento (5629 pcs.).
- BMW 5 Series (5034 pcs.).
- KIA K5 (4813 pcs).
Cars with a capacity of over 170 hp. accounted for 84% of the total annual import volume. At the same time, Sergey Tselikov noted that the supply of cars with engines with a capacity of more than 160 hp. from South Korea continued after the abolition of preferential waste collection in December 2025. The share of such machines in total imports decreased to 73%, which did not become a critical drop.
According to Sergei Tselikov, the steady growth of imports from South Korea has become one of the key trends in the 2025 market. In the first nine months of 2025 alone, 72.3 thousand Korean used cars were imported into the country, making South Korea the second largest supplier after Japan.
The head of Avtostat indicated that the average age of cars imported from Korea is 3-5 years, which makes them younger than their Japanese counterparts. These cars are equipped with modern systems and are offered at an attractive price, creating direct competition for new Chinese models.
 | Imports from Korea are becoming a challenge for Chinese brands: buyers choose not only cheaper, but better and more familiar in design, - said Sergey Tselikov. |  |
Experts of the automotive portal Carexpo.ru believe that the prospects for import growth depend on two key conditions: state regulation measures, including the size of the utilization fee and customs benefits, as well as on the dynamics of the ruble exchange rate and logistics costs.[2]
Imports of cars from South Korea to Russia doubled in a year and reached $1 billion
In 2025, the volume of car imports from South Korea to Russia doubled, reaching $1.042 billion. Data showing an increase of 77.2% compared to 2024 ($588 million) were provided by the customs service of the Republic of Korea and published by the Interfax news agency on January 16, 2026. Read more here
Growth of soybean oil exports from Russia to South Korea by 3.2 times to 5.5 thousand tons
Russia in 2025 exported 5.5 thousand tons of soybean oil to South Korea, which is 3.2 times more than in 2024 (1.7 thousand tons). This was announced in January 2026 by the customs of the republic. The indicator was a record for the entire supply of Russian soybean oil to this market, which began in 2017. The cost of shipments increased to $6.4 million from $1.8 million in 2024. According to Rosstat, soybean collection in the Russian Federation in 2025 amounted to a record 8.96 million tons against 7.06 million tons in 2024.[3]
Exports of Russian fish to South Korea for the year increased by 3.6% to 270.7 thousand tons.
In January 2026, TAdviser got acquainted with the statistics of the South Korean customs service, according to which the import of fish and seafood to this country from Russia in 2025 amounted to 270.7 thousand tons. Compared to 2024, when 280.1 thousand tons were delivered, volumes decreased by 3.6%. Export revenue increased to $943.2 million against $897.5 million in 2024.
Despite the decline in physical volumes, Russia retained the position of the second most important supplier of fish products to the South Korean market, losing only to China. According to Interfax, Chinese supplies in 2025 reached 330.1 thousand tons in the amount of $1.14 billion. Other major supplying countries included Vietnam (134.6 thousand tons), Norway (83.98 thousand tons) and Japan (55 thousand tons).
According to the Association of Fishing Fleet Shipowners, based on Union Forsea Corp estimates, the export of fish products from Russia to South Korea in 2025 amounted to about 250 thousand tons, which is close to the previous year. A significant increase in supplies in December 2025 by 43% (up to 20.4 thousand tons) compensated for the lag formed earlier.
There have been significant changes in the commodity structure. Sardine exports to South Korea almost quadrupled, to 19.1 thousand tons. The supply of frozen Pacific herring increased by 37%, and Atlantic mackerel - 1.6 times. At the same time, imports of frozen pollock, the key product in these supplies, decreased by 16%, to 116 thousand tons.
The cost of Russian supplies to South Korea for the year increased by 7%, reaching $866.4 million. According to the Association of Fishing Fleet Shipowners, in December 2025, Russian seafood accounted for about 26% of all Korean imports of this category of goods, which confirms the status of the Russian Federation as a key supplier.[4][5]
2024
Russia increased annual barley exports to South Korea 130 times to 15.2 thousand tons
The volume of Russian barley supplies to South Korea increased 130 times and reached a historic maximum of 15.2 thousand tons in 2024. This became known on February 5, 2025 from the data of the South Korean Statistical Service.
According to Prime, thanks to a significant increase in exports, Russia rose from fifth to second place among barley suppliers to South Korea. In the first place is Australia with a supply volume of $20.1 million, in the third - the United States with an indicator of $3.6 million.
Barley exports from Russia to South Korea have been irregular and negligible in previous years. In 2023, the volume of supplies was only 92 tons, in 2020 - by $11 thousand, in 2019 - by $98 thousand, in 2013 - by $1 thousand, in 2010 - by $17 thousand.
At the same time, the supply of Russian wheat to South Korea decreased 1.7 times to 67.8 thousand tons, which became the minimum indicator since 2022. Russia dropped from seventh to tenth place among wheat exporters.
According to the publication, the three largest suppliers of wheat to South Korea included the United States with exports of $522.4 million, Australia - $396.8 million and Ukraine - $179.1 million.
The largest volume of Russian grain exports to South Korea in 2024 fell on corn - 228 thousand tons, which is 1.4% less than in 2023. Also, the South Korean side increased purchases of Russian oats by 58% to 853 tons.
The surge in barley supplies shows increased trade ties between Russia and South Korea in the agricultural sector. The figures achieved in 2024 were a record in the history of trade between the two countries.
Diversification of grain exports allows Russia to expand its presence in Asian markets and compensate for the decline in wheat supplies.[6]
Russia came in second place in terms of fish supplies to South Korea
The Federal Statistics Service of South Korea in early February 2025 published data according to which Russia ranked second in terms of fish and seafood exports to the country with a supply of $897.5 million, losing leadership to China. Read more here.
2023: Russia halves seafood shipments to South Korea but remains biggest exporter
At the end of 2023, Russia halved the supply of seafood to South Korea, but remained the largest exporter. This was announced in January 2024 by the head of the fisheries information agency Alexander Savelyev, citing data from South Korean customs statistics.
| | But, despite such a reduction, the share of Russian products in the total volume of Korean imports in this area amounted to almost 30%. Thus, Russia remained the largest supplier of seafood to South Korea, he said in a conversation with Interfax. | |
According to Savelyev, frozen pollock accounts for the main export of Russian seafood to South Korea. The second most imported fish was herring ice cream. In third place is frozen pollock caviar, in fourth - frozen sardines, in fifth - frozen yellowfin flounder, in sixth - frozen pollock milks.
There are also data according to which, in addition, Russia the top ten largest suppliers of seafood to the South Korean market at the end of 2023 also includes the following countries:,, China,, Norway,, Peru,, and Vietnam. USA Taiwan Chile Japan The average import Mexico price of seafood imported into South Korea in 2023 was $4.71 per 1 kg, the agency adds.
China in 2023 supplied 212 thousand tons of seafood to South Korea, which is 1.4% more than a year ago. The largest share in Chinese exports was taken by the frozen sea devil. Norway, one of the three largest suppliers of seafood to the South Korean market, in 2023 reduced exports by 10.7%, to 78 thousand tons. Peru ships mainly giant squid to South Korea, Vietnam - octopuses, the United States - yellowfin flounder, Taiwan - Saira.[7]
2022
Growth in motor oil supplies to Russia by 116% to $229 million
In early July 2023, it became known that the export of engine oils from South Korea to Russia in 2022 more than doubled compared to the previous year.
According to the Financial Times newspaper, citing statistics from the South Korean government, the export of engine oils from this country to Russia in 2022 amounted to approximately $229 million in monetary terms. This is 116.7% more compared to the result for 2021. Oils, as noted, can be used in military equipment, in particular, in tanks, armored cars, etc.
The surge in supplies occurred after Western oil companies, including Total, Shell and BP, in the current geopolitical situation decided to reduce activities in Russia.
It is said that as a result of the departure of Western companies, SK Enmove (a subsidiary of the South Korean conglomerate SK Group) and GS Caltex (a joint venture of the South Korean GS Group and the American energy conglomerate Chevron) were able to increase income through the supply of engine oils to Russia. In particular, SK Enmove and GS Caltex delivered engine oil to Russia in the amount of about $2.8 million in January 2022. Since then, their volumes have risen sharply, peaking at about $28 million in March 2023.
SK Enmove accounts for 6.5% of Russian imports of engine oils, while GS Caltex accounts for just over 5%. Both manufacturers, according to the Financial Times, admitted that they won as a result of the departure of their competitors from the Russian market. At the same time, they say that they have taken precautions so that their products are not used for military purposes. Thus, GS Caltex said that "there is no chance" that its products can be used for military purposes, since the contract with the Russian side "contains clear rules for reselling products."[8]
Increase in coal imports from Russia by 24%
Russian coal miners, through the provision of discounts, increased deliveries to South Korea by 24% in 2022, displacing the main player in this market - Australia. The growth of supplies was facilitated by a short transport arm from the Far East, as well as relatively affordable freight rates, which periodically allowed cargo to be sent to South Korea even from the ports of the European part of the Russian Federation.
Reduction in exports to Russia by 36% in the first 7 months
According to statistics from the South Korean Customs Service, the supply of South Korean goods to Russia decreased by 36% in January-July 2022. Exports to Russia amounted to $3.5 billion, with last year's level of $5.5 billion.
2021
Fifth largest importer to Russia
Energy imports from Russia
For 2021 Russia , it sends most of its coal to Asia, as it Europe avoids this fuel.
2019: Lower trade with Russia relative to 2014
Notes
- ↑ Trade turnover of Russia and South Korea in 2025 amounted to $10.9 billion
- ↑ Telegram channel "Sergey Tselikov - Autostat"
- ↑ Russia in 2025 exported a record 5.5 thousand tons of soybean oil to South Korea
- ↑ South Korea in 2025 reduced imports of fish from the Russian Federation by 3.6% to 270.7 thousand
- ↑ tons. Exports of Russian fish to South Korea in 2025 remained at the level of 2024
- ↑ Russia has increased barley imports to South Korea 130 times
- ↑ South Korea halves Russian seafood imports in 2023
- ↑ South Korean motor lubricant exports to Russia surge after oil majors retreat
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