Importer opportunity guide
Explore Democratic People\'s Republic of Korea's import market by product, supplier concentration, demand growth, and sourcing gaps. Use reported market size and calculated indicators to decide where deeper supplier research may be useful.
Democratic People\'s Republic of Korea import opportunities
Compare market size and growth with supplier concentration. A large market may still need product, quality, tariff, logistics, and buyer validation.
Largest market shown
$168.9M of latest reported imports and $329.9M of calculated three-year opportunity.
Current import base
Democratic People\'s Republic of Korea recorded $2.0B in imports in 2024, with a three-year change of +43.1%.
How to use the guide
Start with the highest-value products, then review supplier concentration and market conditions before choosing a sourcing route.
Import market overview
This page separates reported import observations from calculated indicators so market size is not mistaken for a guaranteed sourcing opportunity.
Democratic People\'s Republic of Korea imports products from suppliers across major trade regions. The current profile reports $2.0B of imports in 2024, while the opportunity view highlights product and supplier combinations where market demand and supply context may justify further research.
Use the opportunity table to compare product market size, demand growth, supplier counts, concentration, and projected imports. High concentration can indicate reliance on a small supplier base; it can also reflect specialized products that require careful validation.
Top import opportunities
The top 50 screened products are ranked by calculated three-year opportunity. Reported market values and calculated indicators are labeled separately.
| Rank | Product | Market size | Demand growth | Suppliers | Concentration | Top supplier | Projected imports |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | HS 670300Human hair, dressed, thinned, bleached or otherwise worked: wool or other animal hair or other textile materials, prepared for use in making wigs or the like | $168.9MLatest imports | +27.0% | 1 | 10000 | CHNDeclining | $329.9M |
| 2 | HS 290511Alcohols: saturated monohydric, methanol (methyl alcohol) | $89.3MLatest imports | +29.5% | 2 | 9922 | TTOAccelerating | $174.4M |
| 3 | HS 261690Precious metal ores and concentrates: (excluding silver) | $75.6MLatest imports | +18.6% | 1 | 10000 | PNGGrowing | $126.2M |
| 4 | HS 150790Vegetable oils: soya-bean oil and its fractions, other than crude, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified | $89.0MLatest imports | +7.7% | 1 | 10000 | CHNDeclining | $111.2M |
| 5 | HS 391810Floor, wall or ceiling coverings: of polymers of vinyl chloride, whether or not self-adhesive, in rolls or in the form of tiles | $42.3MLatest imports | +12.3% | 1 | 10000 | CHNDeclining | $59.9M |
| 6 | HS 800110Tin: unwrought, not alloyed | $28.9MLatest imports | +21.9% | 2 | 10000 | THADeclining | $52.3M |
| 7 | HS 540769Fabrics, woven: containing less than 85% by weight of non-textured polyester filaments | $34.4MLatest imports | +12.9% | 1 | 10000 | CHNDeclining | $49.5M |
| 8 | HS 540752Fabrics, woven: containing 85% or more by weight of textured polyester filaments, dyed | $29.6MLatest imports | +9.7% | 1 | 10000 | CHNDeclining | $39.2M |
| 9 | HS 600632Fabrics: knitted or crocheted fabrics, other than those of headings 60.01 to 60.04, of synthetic fibres, dyed | $29.0MLatest imports | +8.1% | 1 | 10000 | CHNDeclining | $36.6M |
| 10 | HS 940350Furniture: wooden, for bedroom use | $20.6MLatest imports | +17.2% | 1 | 10000 | CHNDeclining | $33.1M |
| 11 | HS 290124Acyclic hydrocarbons: unsaturated, buta-1,3-diene and isoprene | $15.0MLatest imports | +63.3% | 1 | 10000 | INDAccelerating | $29.2M |
| 12 | HS 630533Sacks and bags: of a kind used for the packing of goods, of man-made textile materials, of polyethylene or polypropylene strip or the like, not flexible intermediate bulk containers | $16.2MLatest imports | +21.7% | 1 | 10000 | CHNGrowing | $29.1M |
| 13 | HS 391620Vinyl chloride polymers: monofilament, of which any cross-sectional dimension exceeds 1mm, rods, sticks and profile shapes, whether or not surface-worked but not otherwise worked | $14.5MLatest imports | +31.3% | 1 | 10000 | CHNDeclining | $28.3M |
| 14 | HS 292242Amino-acids, other than those containing more than one kind of oxygen function, and their esters: glutamic acid and its esters: salts thereof | $20.8MLatest imports | +7.7% | 1 | 10000 | CHNDeclining | $25.9M |
| 15 | HS 920110Musical instruments: pianos, upright, including automatic pianos | $16.2MLatest imports | +16.8% | 1 | 10000 | CHNDeclining | $25.8M |
| 16 | HS 030367Fish: frozen, Alaska pollock (Theragra chalcogramma), excluding fillets, fish meat of 0304, and edible fish offal of subheadings 0303.91 to 0303.99 | $15.9MLatest imports | +17.1% | 1 | 10000 | CHNGrowing | $25.6M |
| 17 | HS 401120Rubber: new pneumatic tyres, of a kind used on buses or lorries | $22.0MLatest imports | +4.5% | 1 | 10000 | CHNDeclining | $25.1M |
| 18 | HS 690722Ceramic tiles: flags and paving, hearth or wall tiles other than those of subheadings 6907.30 and 6907.40, of a water absorption coefficient by weight over 0.5% but not over 10% | $14.7MLatest imports | +19.0% | 1 | 10000 | CHNDeclining | $24.8M |
| 19 | HS 283620Carbonates: disodium carbonate | $17.7MLatest imports | +9.7% | 1 | 10000 | CHNDeclining | $23.4M |
| 20 | HS 080521Fruit, edible: mandarins (including tangerines and satsumas), fresh or dried | $17.7MLatest imports | +9.6% | 1 | 10000 | CHNDeclining | $23.3M |
| 21 | HS 690721Ceramic tiles: flags and paving, hearth or wall tiles other than those of subheadings 6907.30 and 6907.40, of a water absorption coefficient by weight not over 0.5% | $16.4MLatest imports | +11.8% | 1 | 10000 | CHNDeclining | $23.0M |
| 22 | HS 160100Meat preparations: sausages and similar products, of meat, meat offal or blood, and food preparations based on these products | $15.5MLatest imports | +13.9% | 1 | 10000 | CHNDeclining | $22.9M |
| 23 | HS 271320Petroleum bitumen: obtained from bituminous minerals | $17.4MLatest imports | +7.7% | 1 | 10000 | CHNSlowing | $21.7M |
| 24 | HS 611030Jerseys, pullovers, cardigans, waistcoats and similar articles: of man-made fibres, knitted or crocheted | $15.2MLatest imports | +12.0% | 2 | 10000 | CHNSlowing | $21.3M |
| 25 | HS 940370Furniture: plastic | $10.7MLatest imports | +33.2% | 1 | 10000 | CHNDeclining | $20.9M |
| 26 | HS 090421Spices: fruits of the genus Capsicum or Pimenta, dried, neither crushed nor ground | $10.6MLatest imports | +25.1% | 2 | 9989 | CHNStable | $20.7M |
| 27 | HS 392590Plastics: builders' ware, n.e.s. or included in heading no. 3925 | $12.3MLatest imports | +17.3% | 1 | 10000 | CHNStable | $19.9M |
| 28 | HS 392690Plastics: other articles n.e.s. in chapter 39 | $16.0MLatest imports | +7.3% | 1 | 10000 | CHNDeclining | $19.8M |
| 29 | HS 030349Fish: tuna, frozen, n.e.c. in item no. 0303.4 (excluding fillets, livers, roes and other fish meat of heading no. 0304) | $9.5MLatest imports | +38.5% | 1 | 10000 | GINAccelerating | $18.6M |
| 30 | HS 441233Plywood: with sheets of wood only: not bamboo: each ply 6mm or less, with at least one outer ply of alder, ash, beech, birch, cherry, chestnut, elm, eucalyptus, hickory, horse chestnut, lime, maple, oak, plane, poplar, aspen, robinia, tulipwood or walnut | $12.1MLatest imports | +13.6% | 1 | 10000 | CHNStable | $17.8M |
| 31 | HS 650500Hats and other headgear: knitted or crocheted, or made up from lace, felt or other textile fabric, in the piece (but not in strips), whether or not lined or trimmed: hair-nets of any material, whether or not lined or trimmed | $10.2MLatest imports | +19.7% | 2 | 9999 | CHNDeclining | $17.5M |
| 32 | HS 080810Fruit, edible: apples, fresh | $11.8MLatest imports | +12.9% | 1 | 10000 | CHNDeclining | $16.9M |
| 33 | HS 390120Ethylene polymers: in primary forms, polyethylene having a specific gravity of 0.94 or more | $12.9MLatest imports | +9.2% | 1 | 10000 | CHNGrowing | $16.8M |
| 34 | HS 050510Animal products: feathers and down used for stuffing, not further worked than cleaned, disinfected or treated for preservation | $13.5MLatest imports | +9.0% | 1 | 10000 | CHNAccelerating | $17.5M |
| 35 | HS 940360Furniture: wooden, other than for office, kitchen or bedroom use | $11.9MLatest imports | +9.0% | 1 | 10000 | CHNDeclining | $15.4M |
| 36 | HS 550320Fibres: synthetic staple fibres, of polyesters, not carded, combed or otherwise processed for spinning | $15.0MLatest imports | +0.7% | 1 | 10000 | CHNSlowing | $15.4M |
| 37 | HS 300490Medicaments: consisting of mixed or unmixed products n.e.s. in heading no. 3004, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail sale | $11.6MLatest imports | +11.1% | 7 | 9345 | CHNDeclining | $15.9M |
| 38 | HS 260300Copper ores and concentrates | $11.8MLatest imports | +9.8% | 1 | 10000 | PNGDeclining | $15.6M |
| 39 | HS 170199Sugars: sucrose, chemically pure, in solid form, not containing added flavouring or colouring matter | $14.1MLatest imports | +2.4% | 1 | 10000 | CHNStable | $15.2M |
| 40 | HS 640299Footwear: n.e.s. in heading no. 6402, (other than just covering the ankle), with outer soles and uppers of rubber or plastics | $11.6MLatest imports | +8.7% | 1 | 10000 | CHNDeclining | $14.9M |
| 41 | HS 640399Footwear: n.e.c. in heading no. 6403, (not covering the ankle), outer soles of rubber, plastics or composition leather, uppers of leather | $11.0MLatest imports | +10.5% | 1 | 10000 | CHNSlowing | $14.8M |
| 42 | HS 270900Oils: petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crude | $18.1MLatest imports | -6.6% | 1 | 10000 | GABDeclining | $14.7M |
| 43 | HS 392010Plastics: plates, sheets, film, foil and strip, of polymers of ethylene, non-cellular and not reinforced, laminated, supported or similarly combined with other materials | $13.6MLatest imports | +2.6% | 1 | 10000 | CHNSlowing | $14.7M |
| 44 | HS 911490Clock or watch parts: n.e.s. in heading no. 9114 | $7.5MLatest imports | +29.4% | 1 | 10000 | CHNSlowing | $14.6M |
| 45 | HS 690723Ceramic tiles: flags and paving, hearth or wall tiles other than those of subheadings 6907.30 and 6907.40, of a water absorption coefficient by weight over 10% | $9.3MLatest imports | +16.0% | 1 | 10000 | CHNDeclining | $14.5M |
| 46 | HS 611595Hosiery and footwear: without applied soles, of cotton, knitted or crocheted (excluding graduated compression hosiery, panty hose, tights, full or knee-length hosiery measuring per single yarn less than 67 decitex) | $8.0MLatest imports | +19.4% | 1 | 10000 | CHNSlowing | $13.6M |
| 47 | HS 310230Fertilizers, mineral or chemical: nitrogenous, ammonium nitrate, whether or not in aqueous solution | $7.0MLatest imports | +28.8% | 1 | 10000 | SAUDeclining | $13.7M |
| 48 | HS 600192Fabrics: pile fabrics (excluding long pile and loop pile), of man-made fibres, knitted or crocheted | $9.1MLatest imports | +12.2% | 1 | 10000 | CHNDeclining | $12.9M |
| 49 | HS 590310Textile fabrics: impregnated, coated, covered or laminated with poly(vinyl chloride) | $7.7MLatest imports | +18.1% | 1 | 10000 | CHNDeclining | $12.7M |
| 50 | HS 590320Textile fabrics: impregnated, coated, covered or laminated with polyurethane | $8.7MLatest imports | +12.6% | 1 | 10000 | CHNDeclining | $12.4M |
Showing the five highest-ranked products on mobile. View the complete import opportunity data.
Product sectors
HS2 sectors group the screened products into broader families for an easier first comparison.
| Sector | Products | Market size | Opportunity | Average growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prepared feathersHS2 67 | 1 | $168.9M | $329.9M | +27.0% |
| Organic chemicalsHS2 29 | 3 | $125.0M | $228.8M | +33.5% |
| PlasticsHS2 39 | 6 | $111.6M | $159.3M | +13.3% |
| Ores, slag and ashHS2 26 | 2 | $87.4M | $141.4M | +14.2% |
| Animal and vegetable fatsHS2 15 | 1 | $89.0M | $111.2M | +7.7% |
| Man-made filamentsHS2 54 | 2 | $64.0M | $88.7M | +11.3% |
| Furniture and lightingHS2 94 | 3 | $43.2M | $69.5M | +19.8% |
| Ceramic productsHS2 69 | 3 | $40.4M | $62.2M | +15.6% |
| HS2 sector 80HS2 80 | 1 | $28.9M | $52.0M | +21.9% |
| Knitted fabricsHS2 60 | 2 | $38.1M | $49.4M | +10.1% |
| Fish and crustaceansHS2 03 | 2 | $25.5M | $44.1M | +27.8% |
| Edible fruit and nutsHS2 08 | 2 | $29.5M | $40.0M | +11.2% |
Supply gaps
The concentration index helps identify products where reported imports rely more heavily on a smaller supplier base. It is a screening signal, not a recommendation by itself.
| Product | Market size | Suppliers | Concentration | Top supplier | Share gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HS 670300Human hair, dressed, thinned, bleached or otherwise worked: wool or other animal hair or other textile materials, prepared for use in making wigs or the like | $168.9M | 1 | 10000 | CHN | 100.0% |
| HS 261690Precious metal ores and concentrates: (excluding silver) | $75.6M | 1 | 10000 | PNG | 100.0% |
| HS 150790Vegetable oils: soya-bean oil and its fractions, other than crude, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified | $89.0M | 1 | 10000 | CHN | 100.0% |
| HS 391810Floor, wall or ceiling coverings: of polymers of vinyl chloride, whether or not self-adhesive, in rolls or in the form of tiles | $42.3M | 1 | 10000 | CHN | 100.0% |
| HS 540769Fabrics, woven: containing less than 85% by weight of non-textured polyester filaments | $34.4M | 1 | 10000 | CHN | 100.0% |
| HS 540752Fabrics, woven: containing 85% or more by weight of textured polyester filaments, dyed | $29.6M | 1 | 10000 | CHN | 100.0% |
| HS 600632Fabrics: knitted or crocheted fabrics, other than those of headings 60.01 to 60.04, of synthetic fibres, dyed | $29.0M | 1 | 10000 | CHN | 100.0% |
| HS 940350Furniture: wooden, for bedroom use | $20.6M | 1 | 10000 | CHN | 99.9% |
Supplier landscape
These supplier names come from the leading peer signal in the screened opportunity rows and should be validated at product level.
CHN
42 screened products
$1.3BCalculated opportunity across these rowsTTO
1 screened products
$173.7MCalculated opportunity across these rowsPNG
2 screened products
$141.4MCalculated opportunity across these rowsTHA
1 screened products
$52.0MCalculated opportunity across these rowsIND
1 screened products
$29.2MCalculated opportunity across these rowsGIN
1 screened products
$18.5MCalculated opportunity across these rowsGAB
1 screened products
$14.7MCalculated opportunity across these rowsSAU
1 screened products
$13.6MCalculated opportunity across these rowsFrequently asked questions
Definitions and practical guidance for interpreting market size, growth, suppliers, and concentration.
They are product and supplier combinations in Democratic People\'s Republic of Korea's screened import market with substantial reported demand and calculated opportunity indicators. They are research priorities, not guaranteed savings or supply contracts.
The concentration index indicates how much reported imports rely on a smaller supplier base. A high value can suggest supply dependence, but it can also reflect specialized products or limited reporting.
Start with products that fit your specification and volume needs, then validate suppliers, tariffs, standards, logistics, pricing, and continuity for Democratic People\'s Republic of Korea.
Data source
OECD (2025), Balanced international merchandise trade statistics (BIMTS) - HS2017-6D, OECD Data Explorer (accessed on 2026-08-30). OECD BIMTS is the primary trade series for this view. Supporting bilateral trade context uses CEPII BACI bilateral trade flows (202601) under Etalab 2.0 Open Licence. Yugalinks presents derived views of reported observations and calculated indicators. Data terms: OECD Terms & Conditions.
