Korea’s automotive export worth reached $72 billion in 2025, surpassing the earlier report of $70.9 billion set in 2023. This marks the third consecutive yr that the nation’s automotive export worth has exceeded the $70 billion threshold. Regardless of uncertainties relating to U.S.-originated tariffs, this achievement was pushed by important will increase in exports to Europe, Central Asia, and the Center East, primarily centered on eco-friendly autos and used automobiles.
The Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Assets introduced the “December 2025 Automotive Trade Tendencies” containing these findings on Jan. 15. Based on the ministry, final yr’s annual automotive export worth was $71.991 billion, representing a 1.7% enhance in comparison with the earlier yr. Though December’s month-to-month export worth of $5.953 billion decreased by 1.5% in comparison with the identical month within the earlier yr, the general efficiency maintained a optimistic development as a consequence of favorable annual outcomes.
Inspecting by area, a transparent development towards export diversification was noticed. North America maintained its title as the most important export market, however export worth declined by 10.8%, from $40.013 billion in 2024 to $35.707 billion. That is interpreted as fallout from U.S. automotive tariffs. In distinction, automotive export worth to the EU surged considerably by 20.1% throughout the identical interval, from $8.058 billion to $9.678 billion. Final yr’s automotive export worth to the Asian area additionally elevated by 31.9% in comparison with the earlier yr, reaching $7.754 billion.
This sturdy efficiency is interpreted as being pushed by eco-friendly autos. Based on the ministry, 874,459 eco-friendly autos had been exported final yr. This represents a 17.7% enhance in comparison with 2024 efficiency (742,816 models). Many of the enhance was confirmed to be hybrid autos.
Eco-friendly autos are being evaluated as increasing their market place, with gross sales quantity rising by 25% even within the home market. Notably within the home market, electrical car gross sales reached 216,375 models final yr, surpassing 200,000 models for the primary time in historical past. This represents a 52% enlargement in comparison with 2024 gross sales quantity (141,965 models).
