# Republic of Korea Chemicals Export Opportunities (HS 28-38)

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> Yugalinks sector export playbook

Explore Republic of Korea HS 28-38 chemicals export opportunities, product portfolio, buyer markets, growth signals, and diversification opportunities.

## Overview

- Exporter: Republic of Korea (KOR)
- Sector: Chemicals
- HS chapters: HS 28-38
- Latest trade year: 2024
- Sector exports: $7.9B
- Products: 42
- Buyer markets: 25
- Average CAGR: +28.8%
- Global sector size: $757.9B

## Product portfolio

| Product | Global size | Your exports | Opportunity | CAGR | Markets | Share |
| --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| HS 300490 - Medicaments: consisting of mixed or unmixed products n.e.s. in heading no. 3004, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail sale | $294.1B | $299.8M | $111.5B | +15.6% | 18 | +0.1% |
| HS 300215 - Blood, human or animal, antisera, other blood fractions and immunological products: immunological products, put up in measured doses or in forms or packings for retail sale | $153.0B | $2.4B | $59.9B | +99.9% | 13 | +1.8% |
| HS 293719 - Polypeptide hormones, protein hormones and glycoprotein hormones, their derivatives and structural analogues: other than somatotropin, (its derivatives and structural anaologues) and insulin and its salts | $29.9B | $178.3K | $48.0B | +5.0% | 4 | +0.0% |
| HS 300214 - Blood, human or animal, antisera, other blood fractions and immunological products: immunological products, mixed, put up in measured doses or in forms or packings for retail sale | $28.6B | $2.4B | $29.1B | +63.6% | 4 | +5.9% |
| HS 293359 - Heterocyclic compounds: containing a pyrimidine ring (whether or not hydrogenated) or piperazine ring in the structure, (other than malonylurea (barbituric acid) and its derivatives),and loprazolam, mecloqualone, methaqualone, zipeprol and salts thereof | $19.4B | $445.0K | $23.0B | -9.2% | 3 | +0.0% |
| HS 300220 - Vaccines: for human medicine | $27.3B | $1.7M | $22.9B | +0.3% | 6 | +0.0% |
| HS 293399 - Heterocyclic compounds: n.e.c. in headings no. 2933 | $15.4B | $4.6M | $15.5B | +18.7% | 2 | +0.0% |
| HS 300212 - Blood, human or animal, antisera, other blood fractions and immunological products: antisera and other blood fractions | $26.4B | $58.3M | $14.9B | +92.3% | 5 | +0.1% |
| HS 300439 - Medicaments: containing hormones (but not insulin), adrenal cortex hormones or antibiotics, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail sale | $24.4B | $4.6M | $14.7B | +12.0% | 7 | +0.0% |
| HS 382600 - Biodiesel and mixtures thereof: not containing or containing less than 70% by weight of petroleum oils or oils obtained from bituminous minerals | $10.9B | $46.4M | $9.9B | +20.2% | 4 | +0.3% |
| HS 330210 - Odoriferous substances and mixtures: of a kind used in the food or drink industries | $6.8B | $433.4K | $9.6B | +6.8% | 2 | +0.0% |
| HS 382499 - Chemical products, mixtures and preparations: n.e.c. heading 3824 | $17.8B | $2.2B | $7.5B | +64.9% | 4 | +8.4% |
| HS 293499 - Nucleic acids and their salts, other heterocyclic compounds, n.e.c. in heading number 2934 | $11.9B | $62.7M | $7.3B | +8.6% | 2 | +0.5% |
| HS 300339 - Medicaments: containing hormones (excluding insulin), (but not containing antibiotics), for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, not packaged for retail sale | $3.4B | $6.5K | $6.6B | +37.7% | 1 | +0.5% |
| HS 382200 - Reagents: diagnostic or laboratory reagents on a backing and prepared diagnostic or laboratory reagents whether or not on a backing, other than those of heading no. 3002 or 3006: certified reference material | $15.1B | $118.0M | $6.2B | +16.2% | 3 | +0.7% |
| HS 293590 - Sulphonamides: n.e.c. in heading no. 2935 | $4.7B | $5.6M | $6.1B | +2.8% | 3 | +0.1% |
| HS 293379 - Heterocyclic compounds: lactams: other than 6-hexanelactam (epsilon caprolactam) | $4.2B | $10.0 | $4.8B | -19.8% | 1 | +0.0% |
| HS 282200 - Cobalt oxides and hydroxides: commercial cobalt oxides | $2.4B | $124.2K | $4.6B | +24.2% | 1 | +0.0% |
| HS 290919 - Ethers: acyclic, and their halogenated, sulphonated, nitrated or nitrosated derivatives, other than diethyl ether | $3.0B | $1.7M | $4.4B | +35.1% | 2 | +0.1% |
| HS 330300 - Perfumes and toilet waters | $6.6B | $2.1M | $4.1B | +16.1% | 2 | +0.0% |
| HS 290110 - Acyclic hydrocarbons: saturated | $2.0B | $5.2M | $3.8B | +12.4% | 1 | +0.3% |
| HS 381512 - Catalysts, supported: reaction initiators, reaction accelerators and catalytic preparations, with precious metal or precious metal compounds as the active substance, n.e.c. or included | $4.5B | $1.8M | $3.8B | +20.5% | 2 | +0.1% |
| HS 283691 - Carbonates: lithium carbonate | $2.5B | $38.2M | $3.7B | +34.4% | 1 | +1.5% |
| HS 381800 - Chemical elements: doped for use in electronics, in the form of discs, wafers or similar forms: chemical compounds doped for use in electronics | $3.8B | $85.6M | $3.5B | +18.1% | 2 | +1.5% |
| HS 281820 - Aluminium oxide: other than artificial corundum | $3.5B | $5.9K | $3.4B | -12.1% | 2 | +0.0% |
| HS 290531 - Alcohols: acyclic, diols: ethylene glycol (ethanediol) | $3.2B | $111.8M | $2.1B | +11.4% | 1 | +3.5% |
| HS 300420 - Medicaments: containing antibiotics (other than penicillins, streptomycins or their derivatives), for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail sale | $3.8B | $1.2M | $2.0B | +5.7% | 1 | +0.0% |
| HS 293299 - Heterocyclic compounds: with oxygen hetero-atom(s) only, no lactones or unfused furan rings (hydrogenated or not) in the structure, other than isosafrole, 1-(1,3-benzodiaxol-5-yl) propan-2-one, piperonal, safrole, tetrahydrocannabinols (all isomers) | $2.4B | $777.1K | $2.0B | +13.7% | 1 | +0.0% |
| HS 284590 - Isotopes (excluding those of heading no. 2844): compounds, inorganic or organic, of such isotopes, whether or not chemically defined | $1.1B | $746.9 | $1.9B | -26.8% | 1 | +0.0% |
| HS 382319 - Industrial monocarboxylic fatty acids: acid oils from refining: (other than stearic acid, oleic acid or tall oil fatty acids) | $1.3B | $3.3M | $1.9B | +9.7% | 1 | +0.2% |
| HS 310540 - Fertilizers, mineral or chemical: ammonium dihydrogenorthophosphate (monoammonium phosphate) and mixtures thereof with diammonium hydrogenorthophosphate (diammonium phosphate) | $2.7B | $3.0K | $1.8B | -93.3% | 1 | +0.0% |
| HS 380893 - Herbicides, anti-sprouting products and plant-growth regulators: not containing substances of 3808.50: put up in forms or packings for retail sale or as preparations or articles | $2.0B | $28.4M | $1.7B | +194.4% | 1 | +1.4% |
| HS 284420 - Uranium: enriched in U235, plutonium, their compounds, alloys dispersions (including cermets), ceramic products and mixtures containing uranium enriched in U235, plutonium or compounds of these products | $4.9B | $129.9K | $1.7B | +22.0% | 1 | +0.0% |
| HS 284390 - Inorganic or organic compounds: of precious metals (excluding gold and silver), whether or not chemically defined, amalgams of precious metals | $892.9M | $68.5K | $1.7B | +3.3% | 1 | +0.0% |
| HS 284690 - Compounds, inorganic or organic (excluding cerium), of rare-earth metals, of yttrium, scandium or of mixtures of these metals | $1.4B | $7.6M | $1.5B | +34.7% | 1 | +0.5% |
| HS 300670 - Pharmaceutical goods: Gel preparations designed to be used in human or veterinary medicine as a lubricant for parts of the body for surgical operations or physical examinations or as a coupling agent between the body and medical instruments | $1.2B | $21.1 | $1.4B | -23.7% | 1 | +0.0% |
| HS 284410 - Uranium: natural uranium and its compounds, alloys, dispersions (including cermets), ceramic products and mixtures containing natural uranium or natural uranium compounds | $1.6B | $1.4 | $1.4B | -17.9% | 1 | +0.0% |
| HS 310420 - Fertilizers, mineral or chemical: potassic, potassium chloride | $3.3B | $119.6K | $1.4B | +22.9% | 1 | +0.0% |
| HS 340220 - Washing and cleaning preparations: surface-active, whether or not containing soap (excluding those of heading no. 3401), put up for retail sale | $1.2B | $790.6K | $1.4B | +28.7% | 1 | +0.1% |
| HS 310530 - Fertilizers, mineral or chemical: diammonium hydrogenorthophosphate (diammonium phosphate) | $2.7B | $338.9 | $1.3B | -36.0% | 1 | +0.0% |
| HS 293722 - Steroidal hormones, their derivatives and structural analogues: halogenated derivatives of corticosteroidal hormones | $1.5B | $164.5 | $1.3B | -10.3% | 1 | +0.0% |
| HS 382370 - Industrial fatty alcohols | $1.0B | $173.5K | $1.3B | -1.6% | 1 | +0.0% |

## Best markets

- USA, Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands (USA): $141.7B calculated opportunity across 19 products.
- Germany (DEU): $40.7B calculated opportunity across 13 products.
- China (CHN): $40.1B calculated opportunity across 15 products.
- Slovenia (SVN): $37.7B calculated opportunity across 5 products.
- Switzerland, Liechtenstein (CHE): $36.2B calculated opportunity across 4 products.
- Belgium (BEL): $29.3B calculated opportunity across 5 products.
- Italy (ITA): $23.5B calculated opportunity across 4 products.
- Netherlands (NLD): $19.2B calculated opportunity across 5 products.
- Canada (CAN): $11.7B calculated opportunity across 6 products.
- Japan (JPN): $10.6B calculated opportunity across 4 products.
- United Kingdom (GBR): $9.6B calculated opportunity across 4 products.
- Mexico (MEX): $9.4B calculated opportunity across 4 products.

## Growth stars

- HS 380893: +194.4% average CAGR, $1.7B calculated opportunity.
- HS 300215: +99.9% average CAGR, $59.9B calculated opportunity.
- HS 300212: +92.3% average CAGR, $14.9B calculated opportunity.
- HS 382499: +64.9% average CAGR, $7.5B calculated opportunity.
- HS 300214: +63.6% average CAGR, $29.1B calculated opportunity.
- HS 300339: +37.7% average CAGR, $6.6B calculated opportunity.
- HS 290919: +35.1% average CAGR, $4.4B calculated opportunity.
- HS 284690: +34.7% average CAGR, $1.5B calculated opportunity.
- HS 283691: +34.4% average CAGR, $3.7B calculated opportunity.
- HS 340220: +28.7% average CAGR, $1.4B calculated opportunity.

## Diversification opportunities

- HS 300490: 18 buyer markets, $111.5B calculated opportunity.
- HS 300215: 13 buyer markets, $59.9B calculated opportunity.
- HS 300439: 7 buyer markets, $14.7B calculated opportunity.
- HS 300220: 6 buyer markets, $22.9B calculated opportunity.
- HS 300212: 5 buyer markets, $14.9B calculated opportunity.
- HS 293719: 4 buyer markets, $48.0B calculated opportunity.
- HS 300214: 4 buyer markets, $29.1B calculated opportunity.
- HS 382600: 4 buyer markets, $9.9B calculated opportunity.
- HS 382499: 4 buyer markets, $7.5B calculated opportunity.
- HS 293359: 3 buyer markets, $23.0B calculated opportunity.

## Method

Reported trade observations and calculated indicators are shown separately. Validate buyers, standards, logistics, pricing, and competition before acting. [Read the Yugalinks methodology](https://www.yugalinks.com/methodology).

## Data sources

- Primary trade series: OECD (2025), Balanced international merchandise trade statistics (BIMTS) - HS2017-6D, OECD Data Explorer (accessed on 2026-08-30). [OECD Data Explorer](https://data-explorer.oecd.org/) - [OECD Terms & Conditions](https://www.oecd.org/termsandconditions/)
- CEPII BACI bilateral trade flows (202601): [dataset page](https://www.cepii.fr/CEPII/en/bdd_modele/bdd_modele_item.asp?id=37) - [BACI documentation](https://www.cepii.fr/DATA_DOWNLOAD/baci/doc/baci_webpage.html) - [Etalab 2.0 Open Licence](https://www.etalab.gouv.fr/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/open-licence.pdf)

This page presents derived Yugalinks views of reported observations and calculated indicators.