Rep. of Korea

Rep. of Korea

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El Salvador

El Salvador

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Rep. of Korea-El Salvador Bilateral Trade Analysis 2023

Complete trade statistics: $343.64M total volume •Rep. of Korea surplus: $259.52M

Rep. of KoreaEl Salvador

$301.58M

Exports (2023)

El SalvadorRep. of Korea

$42.06M

Imports (2023)

Trade Balance

$259.52M

Surplus for Rep. of Korea

Total Trade

$343.64M

Combined Volume

Trade Flow Visualization

Direct trade relationship between Rep. of Korea and El Salvador. Green line shows exports from Rep. of Korea, red line shows imports.

Detailed Product Trade Analysis

Comprehensive breakdown of trade flows by product category, revealing the specialized nature of the Rep. of Korea-El Salvador commercial relationship and competitive positioning in global markets.

Rep. of KoreaEl Salvador Exports

$301.58M
2023 Total

Export Market Intelligence

Product Diversity:
Specialized Focus
Market Share:
23.3% top product
1Steel, alloy: flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, n.e.c. in heading no. 7225, (other than plated or coated with zinc)
$70.18M
23.3% of exports
2Vehicles: with only spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine, cylinder capacity over 1500 but not over 3000cc
$46.19M
15.3% of exports
3Vehicles: compression-ignition internal combustion piston engine (diesel or semi-diesel), for transport of goods, (of a gvw not exceeding 5 tonnes), n.e.c. in item no 8704.1
$40.09M
13.3% of exports
4Steel, alloy: flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, n.e.c. in heading no. 7225, plated or coated with zinc (other than electrolytically)
$25.67M
8.5% of exports
5Petroleum oils and oils from bituminous minerals, not crude: preparations n.e.c. containing by weight 70% or more of petroleum oils or oils from bituminous minerals: these being the basic constituents of the preparations: waste oils
$9.09M
3.0% of exports

🎯 Strategic Export Focus

Rep. of Korea's export portfolio to El Salvador demonstrates strategic specialization, with steel, alloy: flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, n.e.c. in heading no. 7225, (other than plated or coated with zinc) representing a key competitive advantage in this bilateral market.

El SalvadorRep. of Korea Imports

$42.06M
2023 Total

Import Dependency Profile

Supply Diversity:
Concentrated
Critical Imports:
61.7% concentration
1Sugars: cane sugar, raw, in solid form, other than as specified in Subheading Note 2 to this chapter, not containing added flavouring or colouring matter
$25.93M
61.7% of imports
2Aluminium: waste and scrap
$5.19M
12.3% of imports
3Lead: waste and scrap
$4.67M
11.1% of imports
4Coffee: not roasted or decaffeinated
$3.62M
8.6% of imports
5Ferrous waste and scrap: n.e.c. in heading no. 7204
$725,846
1.7% of imports

📦 Import Strategy Analysis

Rep. of Korea's import pattern from El Salvador reveals significant dependencyin sugars: cane sugar, raw, in solid form, other than as specified in subheading note 2 to this chapter, not containing added flavouring or colouring matter, highlighting complementary economic structures and potential supply chain optimization opportunities.

Competitive Trade Position Analysis

🏆

Market Leadership

Rep. of Korea demonstrates competitive strength in exportingsteel, alloy: flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, n.e.c. in heading no. 7225, (other than plated or coated with zinc) to El Salvador, leveraging comparative advantages.

Export Leader in 5+ Categories
🔄

Trade Complementarity

The bilateral relationship showsmoderatecomplementarity, with each country specializing in different sectors.

Specialized Exchange
📈

Growth Potential

The $343.64M trade volume indicates substantial economic integration with room for expansion in emerging sectors.

Significant Partnership

Executive Summary: Rep. of Korea-El Salvador Trade Relationship

Key Trade Highlights 2023

  • Total Trade Volume: $343.64 millionrepresenting a significant bilateral economic relationship
  • Trade Balance: Rep. of Korea maintains a surplus of $259.52 million
  • Export Focus: Rep. of Korea's primary exports include steel, alloy: flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, n.e.c. in heading no. 7225, (other than plated or coated with zinc), vehicles: with only spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine, cylinder capacity over 1500 but not over 3000cc, vehicles: compression-ignition internal combustion piston engine (diesel or semi-diesel), for transport of goods, (of a gvw not exceeding 5 tonnes), n.e.c. in item no 8704.1
  • Import Dependencies: Key imports from El Salvador include sugars: cane sugar, raw, in solid form, other than as specified in subheading note 2 to this chapter, not containing added flavouring or colouring matter, aluminium: waste and scrap, lead: waste and scrap

Strategic Trade Indicators

Trade IntensityHigh
Export DiversificationConcentrated
Trade Balance HealthImbalanced

📈 Market Position: This bilateral trade relationship represents an important regional trade partnerships, with complementary economic strengths driving sustained commercial exchange.

Historical Trade Analysis & Economic Context

Trade Evolution Timeline

2019-2023: Recent Trends

Current trade volume of $343.64M represents the culmination of evolving bilateral commercial relationships, influenced by global supply chain shifts and changing economic priorities.

2015-2019: Growth Period

Sustained expansion in bilateral trade driven by complementary economic structures, with Rep. of Korea leveraging its comparative advantages in steel, alloy: flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, n.e.c. in heading no. 7225, (other than plated or coated with zinc).

2010-2015: Foundation Building

Establishment of modern trade frameworks and reduction of barriers, facilitating increased commercial exchange and investment flows between the two economies.

Pre-2010: Early Development

Initial stages of bilateral trade relationship development, with focus on traditional export-import patterns and gradual market integration.

Key Economic Drivers

1

Comparative Advantage

Rep. of Korea's specialization in steel, alloy: flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, n.e.c. in heading no. 7225, (other than plated or coated with zinc)complements El Salvador's demand patterns, creating natural trade synergies.

2

Supply Chain Integration

Deep integration in global value chains has strengthened bilateral linkages, particularly in sugars: cane sugar, raw, in solid form, other than as specified in subheading note 2 to this chapter, not containing added flavouring or colouring matter.

3

Market Access & Trade Policy

Favorable trade agreements and market access conditions have facilitated the growth of this $343.64M bilateral relationship.

Trade Pattern Insights

Trade ComplementarityAsymmetric
Seasonal VariationsModerate
Product ConcentrationMedium
Market DependencyHigh
🔮

Trade Relationship Outlook

The $343.64M bilateral trade volume positions this relationship for continued growth, supported by technological advancement, evolving consumer preferences, and strengthening economic ties. Key opportunities lie in expanding cooperation in emerging sectors while managing potential supply chain vulnerabilities.

Economic Impact & Strategic Outlook

Economic Impact Assessment

💰

Trade Volume Impact

The $343.64 million bilateral trade volume represents a important trade relationshipfor both economies.

Economic Significance: Moderate
🏭

Industrial Integration

Trade flows in steel, alloy: flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, n.e.c. in heading no. 7225, (other than plated or coated with zinc) and sugars: cane sugar, raw, in solid form, other than as specified in subheading note 2 to this chapter, not containing added flavouring or colouring matter demonstrate deep industrial linkages and supply chain integration.

Supply Chain Integration: Specialized
⚖️

Trade Balance Effects

Rep. of Korea's trade surplus of $259.52 million strengthens its overall economic position in this bilateral relationship.

Balance Impact: Export Advantage

Strategic Future Outlook

🚀Growth Opportunities

Emerging Sectors
Technology transfer and innovation cooperation in vehicles: with only spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine, cylinder capacity over 1500 but not over 3000cc present expansion opportunities.
Market Diversification
Beyond current focus on sugars: cane sugar, raw, in solid form, other than as specified in subheading note 2 to this chapter, not containing added flavouring or colouring matter, new product categories offer potential for trade expansion.

⚠️Risk Factors

Supply Chain Vulnerabilities
High trade imbalance may create supply chain risks
Market Competition
Global competition in steel, alloy: flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, n.e.c. in heading no. 7225, (other than plated or coated with zinc) may affect future market positioning.

🎯Strategic Recommendations

  • Strengthen cooperation in high-value sectors beyond current trade patterns
  • Develop alternative supply chains to reduce dependency risks
  • Explore joint ventures in emerging technology sectors
  • Enhance trade facilitation and reduce transaction costs

Market Position & Competitive Summary

The bilateral trade relationship between Rep. of Korea and El Salvador represents a total trade volume of $343.64 million in 2023. This partnership demonstrates a favorable trade balance for Rep. of Korea, with exports exceeding importsby $259.52 million.

Export Strengths

Rep. of Korea's exports to El Salvador total $301.58 million, with competitive advantages in steel, alloy: flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, n.e.c. in heading no. 7225, (other than plated or coated with zinc), representing $70.18M or23.3% of bilateral exports.

Import Dependencies

Imports from El Salvador amount to $42.06 million, highlighting economic interdependence in sugars: cane sugar, raw, in solid form, other than as specified in subheading note 2 to this chapter, not containing added flavouring or colouring matter, with Sugars: cane sugar, raw, in solid form, other than as specified in Subheading Note 2 to this chapter, not containing added flavouring or colouring matter comprising61.7% of total imports.

The trade relationship reflects broader economic patterns and comparative advantages. The trade surplus indicates Rep. of Korea's competitive position in this bilateral relationship. This partnership is characterized by complementary trade flows, with each country specializing in different product categories based on their respective economic strengths, industrial capabilities, and position in global value chains.

Download Bilateral Trade Data

Access detailed trade data between Rep. of Korea and El Salvador in multiple formats.

Data Source: CEPII BACI (Base pour l'Analyse du Commerce International) • Last Updated: January 2025 • Coverage: 1995-2023