South Korea’s exports decreased or increased in the first three months of 2021;
South Korea is the second largest importer of finished marble and granite products in the world and the fifth largest in ceramics. The unprecedented crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdowns, negatively affected South Korea’s imports in 2020, however, in the first three months of 2021 they recovered, recording a large increase in finished marble products, granites and ceramics. In the Table below we see the changes (%) in the value and quantity of South Korean imports between Trimester 1 2020 – 2021 and last trimester of 2020 – first trimester of 2021:
In the Table we observe the increase of the finished marble products between the First trimesters of 2020 – 2021 due to the large increase from Egypt and Italy while from China, which is the main supplier, a decrease was recorded.
The increase in finished granite products is due to China, which is an almost exclusive supplier to South Korea, with a share of total imports of more than 96%.
In ceramics, the increase between the First Quarters 2020 – 2021 is due to the increase in imports from China, which is the main supplier, Italy, Spain and Vietnam.
Between Trimester 4 2020 and the first of 2021, imports of finished marble and granite products from South Korea were affected for the same reasons as between last trimester of 2020 – 2021. In ceramics, imports from China decreased, but imports from Italy and Spain held back the overall decline.
Imports of finished marble products from South Korea in the first three months of 2021 reached $ 38 million, granite $ 100 million and ceramics $ 87 million.
*The statistics are derived from the analysis of the Tariff Class Codes – Harmonized System (HS) Codes:
680221: Marble, travertine and alabaster articles thereof, simply cut or sawn, with a flat or even surface (excl. With a completely or partly planed, sand-dressed, coarsely or finely ground or polished surface, tiles, cubes and similar articles of subheading 6802.10, setts, curbstones and flagstones).
680291: Marble, travertine and alabaster, in any form (excl. Tiles, cubes and similar articles of subheading 6802.10, imitation jewelery, clocks, lamps and lighting fittings and parts thereof, buttons, original sculptures and statuary, setts, curbstones and flagstones) .
680223: Granite and articles thereof, simply cut or sawn, with a flat or even surface (excluding with a completely or partly planed, sand-dressed, coarsely or finely ground or polished surface, tiles, cubes and similar articles of subheading 6802 10 00 , setts, curbstones and flagstones).
680293: Granite, in any form, polished, decorated or otherwise worked (excluding tiles, cubes and similar articles of subheading 6802.10, imitation jewelery, clocks, lamps and lighting fittings and parts thereof, original sculptures and statuary, setts, curbstones and flagstones) .
6907: Ceramic flags and paving, hearth or wall tiles; ceramic mosaic cubes and the like, whether or not on a backing (excl. of siliceous fossil meals or similar siliceous earths, refractory goods, tiles specially adapted as table mats, ornamental articles and tiles specifically manufactured for stoves).
*Due to consistent data flow, statistics may alter during the year
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