Sector footprint
$8.8M in exports
Reported chemicals exports in 2024 across 24 qualifying HS6 products.
Sector export playbook ยท HS 28-38
Democratic People\'s Republic of Korea Chemicals exports
where capability meets demand
Explore Democratic People\'s Republic of Korea's HS 28-38 product portfolio, buyer markets, growth signals, and diversification opportunities. Use this guide to prioritize research, not to treat calculated indicators as guaranteed sales.
Sector exports$8.8M2024 reported value
Products24Qualifying HS6 products
Buyer markets20Markets represented
Average CAGR-1.7%Product-level growth signal
Global sector size$110.9BReported buyer imports
Chemicals capability
How strong is Democratic People\'s Republic of Korea in this sector?
Compare exporter scale with product breadth, buyer demand, growth, and destination reach. A large sector does not remove the need for product, compliance, pricing, and buyer validation.
Global demand
$110.9B buyer imports
The sector's reported buyer import base provides context for product and market prioritization.
How to use the guide
Find the next credible move
Start with products that combine demand and exporter capability, then validate standards, route economics, buyers, and competition.
Product portfolio
Which products anchor the sector?
Each HS6 product is ranked by calculated opportunity and shown with reported market size, exporter exports, growth, and destination reach.
| Product | Global size | Your exports | Opportunity | CAGR | Markets | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HS 300490Medicaments: consisting of mixed or unmixed products n.e.s. in heading no. 3004, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail sale | $53.8B | $617.6K | $24.2B | -12.0% | 9 | +0.0% |
| HS 330499Cosmetic and toilet preparations: n.e.c. in heading no. 3304, for the care of the skin (excluding medicaments, including sunscreen or sun tan preparations) | $21.3B | $382.7K | $8.9B | +6.8% | 9 | +0.0% |
| HS 382499Chemical products, mixtures and preparations: n.e.c. heading 3824 | $11.9B | $3.5M | $8.6B | +6.7% | 6 | +0.0% |
| HS 382200Reagents: 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 | $5.0B | $3.0K | $2.5B | -8.7% | 2 | +0.0% |
| HS 382319Industrial monocarboxylic fatty acids: acid oils from refining: (other than stearic acid, oleic acid or tall oil fatty acids) | $1.3B | $8.8K | $1.9B | +5.6% | 1 | +0.0% |
| HS 284690Compounds, inorganic or organic (excluding cerium), of rare-earth metals, of yttrium, scandium or of mixtures of these metals | $1.4B | $8.8K | $1.5B | -0.5% | 1 | +0.0% |
| HS 310221Fertilizers, mineral or chemical: nitrogenous, ammonium sulphate | $965.4M | $1.2M | $1.3B | +11.1% | 1 | +0.3% |
| HS 290110Acyclic hydrocarbons: saturated | $613.2M | $12.5K | $1.1B | -43.8% | 1 | +0.0% |
| HS 300439Medicaments: containing hormones (but not insulin), adrenal cortex hormones or antibiotics, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail sale | $1.2B | $811.2K | $1.1B | +18.6% | 1 | +0.3% |
| HS 320611Colouring matter: pigments and preparations based on titanium dioxide, containing 80% or more by weight of titanium dioxide calculated on the dry matter | $1.1B | $54.1K | $996.7M | +14.5% | 1 | +0.0% |
| HS 294190Antibiotics: n.e.c. in heading no. 2941 | $883.6M | $9.4 | $990.0M | -30.4% | 1 | +0.0% |
| HS 293499Nucleic acids and their salts, other heterocyclic compounds, n.e.c. in heading number 2934 | $895.5M | $72.8K | $958.6M | +12.2% | 1 | +0.0% |
| HS 293399Heterocyclic compounds: n.e.c. in headings no. 2933 | $734.9M | $53.9 | $798.7M | -24.7% | 1 | +0.0% |
| HS 280920Phosphoric acid and polyphosphoric acids | $417.4M | $5.1K | $714.9M | -19.9% | 1 | +0.0% |
| HS 380891Insecticides: not containing substances of 3808.50: put up in forms or packings for retail sale or as preparations or articles | $1.6B | $14.3K | $713.0M | -8.2% | 1 | +0.0% |
| HS 291736Acids: aromatic polycarboxylic acids: terephthalic acid and its salts | $1.5B | $2.0M | $624.0M | +2.1% | 1 | +0.7% |
| HS 293339Heterocyclic compounds: containing an unfused pyridine ring (whether or not hydrogenated) in the structure, other than pyridine and its salts, other than piperidine and its salts | $936.8M | $25.5K | $580.1M | +43.8% | 1 | +0.0% |
| HS 290250Cyclic hydrocarbons: styrene | $1.2B | $48.9K | $527.4M | -41.2% | 1 | +0.0% |
| HS 294110Antibiotics: penicillins and their derivatives with a penicillanic acid structure: salts thereof | $485.4M | $34.3K | $508.6M | +30.4% | 1 | +0.0% |
| HS 350691Adhesives: prepared, based on polymers of heading 3901 to 3913 or on rubber | $1.2B | $130.0 | $489.4M | -17.1% | 1 | +0.0% |
| HS 291521Acids: saturated acyclic monocarboxylic acids: acetic acid | $465.8M | $26.3K | $442.1M | +6.1% | 1 | +0.0% |
| HS 320890Paints and varnishes: based on polymers n.e.s. in heading no. 3208, dispersed or dissolved in a non-aqueous medium | $929.3M | $5.7K | $442.0M | +0.8% | 1 | +0.0% |
| HS 280300Carbon: carbon blacks and other forms of carbon n.e.s. | $512.9M | $19.3K | $417.6M | -3.3% | 1 | +0.0% |
| HS 300420Medicaments: containing antibiotics (other than penicillins, streptomycins or their derivatives), for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail sale | $387.7M | $53.0K | $406.6M | -7.3% | 1 | +0.2% |
Best markets
Where does sector demand concentrate?
Markets are ranked by calculated opportunity across the qualifying products in this sector view.
CHN
China
7 products represented in the sector.
$15.2B$34.6B reported buyer importsSVN
Slovenia
2 products represented in the sector.
$10.1B$8.0B reported buyer importsIND
India
9 products represented in the sector.
$6.9B$9.0B reported buyer importsESP
Spain
2 products represented in the sector.
$5.9B$13.2B reported buyer importsBRA
Brazil
5 products represented in the sector.
$5.1B$9.0B reported buyer importsPOL
Poland
3 products represented in the sector.
$2.7B$8.3B reported buyer importsDEU
Germany
2 products represented in the sector.
$2.7B$6.6B reported buyer importsMEX
Mexico
2 products represented in the sector.
$2.6B$2.6B reported buyer importsRUS
Russia
2 products represented in the sector.
$1.6B$1.6B reported buyer importsIDN
Indonesia
1 products represented in the sector.
$1.1B$613.2M reported buyer importsCAN
Canada
1 products represented in the sector.
$1.0B$1.4B reported buyer importsTHA
Thailand
2 products represented in the sector.
$1.0B$1.3B reported buyer importsGrowth stars
Which products show the strongest growth?
Average product-level CAGR is a screening signal. Confirm the latest trend, base effects, buyer quality, and commercial feasibility before acting.
| Product | Average CAGR | Opportunity | Markets |
|---|---|---|---|
| HS 293339Heterocyclic compounds: containing an unfused pyridine ring (whether or not hydrogenated) in the structure, other than pyridine and its salts, other than piperidine and its salts | +43.8% | $580.1M | 1 |
| HS 294110Antibiotics: penicillins and their derivatives with a penicillanic acid structure: salts thereof | +30.4% | $508.6M | 1 |
| HS 300439Medicaments: containing hormones (but not insulin), adrenal cortex hormones or antibiotics, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail sale | +18.6% | $1.1B | 1 |
| HS 320611Colouring matter: pigments and preparations based on titanium dioxide, containing 80% or more by weight of titanium dioxide calculated on the dry matter | +14.5% | $996.7M | 1 |
| HS 293499Nucleic acids and their salts, other heterocyclic compounds, n.e.c. in heading number 2934 | +12.2% | $958.6M | 1 |
| HS 310221Fertilizers, mineral or chemical: nitrogenous, ammonium sulphate | +11.1% | $1.3B | 1 |
| HS 330499Cosmetic and toilet preparations: n.e.c. in heading no. 3304, for the care of the skin (excluding medicaments, including sunscreen or sun tan preparations) | +6.8% | $8.9B | 9 |
| HS 382499Chemical products, mixtures and preparations: n.e.c. heading 3824 | +6.7% | $8.6B | 6 |
| HS 291521Acids: saturated acyclic monocarboxylic acids: acetic acid | +6.1% | $442.1M | 1 |
| HS 382319Industrial monocarboxylic fatty acids: acid oils from refining: (other than stearic acid, oleic acid or tall oil fatty acids) | +5.6% | $1.9B | 1 |
Diversification opportunities
Which products reach the widest buyer base?
Destination count is a simple breadth indicator. It does not measure destination concentration or guarantee resilience.
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
9 markets$24.2B calculated opportunityHS 330499
Cosmetic and toilet preparations: n.e.c. in heading no. 3304, for the care of the skin (excluding medicaments, including sunscreen or sun tan preparations)
9 markets$8.9B calculated opportunityHS 382499
Chemical products, mixtures and preparations: n.e.c. heading 3824
6 markets$8.6B calculated opportunityHS 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
2 markets$2.5B calculated opportunityHS 382319
Industrial monocarboxylic fatty acids: acid oils from refining: (other than stearic acid, oleic acid or tall oil fatty acids)
1 markets$1.9B calculated opportunityHS 284690
Compounds, inorganic or organic (excluding cerium), of rare-earth metals, of yttrium, scandium or of mixtures of these metals
1 markets$1.5B calculated opportunityHS 310221
Fertilizers, mineral or chemical: nitrogenous, ammonium sulphate
1 markets$1.3B calculated opportunityHS 290110
Acyclic hydrocarbons: saturated
1 markets$1.1B calculated opportunityFrequently asked questions
Using the Chemicals export playbook
Practical guidance for interpreting sector scale, growth, product breadth, and buyer markets.
How strong is Democratic People\'s Republic of Korea in this sector?
Compare sector exports, product breadth, buyer markets, growth, and global demand. These signals identify research priorities rather than guarantee market access.
What are growth stars?
Products with higher average reported growth in the screened rows. Validate the time period, base effects, buyer demand, and current exporter position.
What does diversification mean here?
Products reaching more buyer markets in the screened data. Destination breadth is useful context but does not replace concentration, route, or buyer analysis.
Data source
OECD trade statistics with CEPII context
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.