Soybean · importers
South Korea ranks sixteenth of 96 at $1.8B in the oil seeds chapter, in a tight cluster of Asian buyers with Taiwan and Vietnam.
| Market | HS 12 imports |
|---|---|
| China | $61.5B |
| Germany | $7.1B |
| Japan | $5.3B |
| Mexico | $4.9B |
| Netherlands | $4.2B |
Figures are for the whole of HS chapter 12 (oil seeds and oleaginous fruits); soybean is only part of it. Source: UN Comtrade, as reported by national authorities; latest available year per market.
Belgium is above at $1.9B, and Taiwan is below at the same rounded $1.8B. South Korea’s 1.3% share of reported world imports is matched by Taiwan and Vietnam, and by the United Kingdom just beyond them. Place is a weak signal here, so a seller should read this as a band of buyers around $1.8B.
The chapter is 0.3% of the country’s $631.7B imports and ranks 38th among its import chapters.
Soybeans in Korea go into traditional foods and fermented products as well as into crushing for oil and feed. Buyers for food use are often specific about size, colour and cleanliness, and may prefer identity-preserved supply. Ask the importer whether it buys food-grade or crushing quality, and get the specification in writing.
Tenders and periodic contracts are common features of staple-food buying in many countries, so ask how the buyer procures.
Mineral fuels at $162.1B, electrical machinery at $123.8B and industrial machinery at $66.0B lead the import bill. China, the USA, Japan and Saudi Arabia lead the overall source list, which covers all goods. Confirm the current import, quarantine and labelling conditions with the authorities and agree Incoterm, currency, payment terms and port.
The $1.8B covers the whole of HS chapter 12, meaning oil seeds and oleaginous fruits; soybeans are only one component. Since Taiwan, Vietnam and the UK report almost the same value, small differences in national reporting can reshuffle them.
In customs shipment data for the soybean heading, the consignee and weight fields show who imports and how much. Approach the largest food-grade and crushing buyers via this site’s free marketplace, once you have agreed Incoterm, currency and payment terms in principle.
Sixteenth of 96 at $1.8B in 2024, a 1.3% share of reported world imports.
No. Taiwan and Vietnam report nearly the same value.
It is 0.3% of $631.7B and ranks 38th among import chapters.
Filter customs shipment data to the soybean heading and read consignee names and cargo weights.
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