What did South Korea import most in the second quarter of 2022?
South Korea is one of the most important countries in imports of processed granite, marble and ceramics internationally. Specifically, in imports of processed granite, South Korea is the world’s second-largest importer, in imports of processed marble it is fourth, and in imports of ceramics, it is tenth.
However, statistics over the last five years show that imports of worked granite have been steadily decreasing, while imports of marble and ceramics have been increasing.
The second quarter of 2022 saw an increase in the import value of all three materials. The table below depicts the changes in the value and quantity of imports between the second quarters of 2021 and 2022 and the first and second quarters of 2022.
Between the second quarters of 2021 and 2022, the import value of ceramics recorded a much higher increase in value than that of worked granite and marble. The quantity of processed granites and ceramics declined, while the quantity of processed marbles increased. The average price per tonne of imports of ceramics increased much more than that of worked granites, while that of worked marbles decreased.
Between the first and second quarters of 2022, a higher increase in the value and quantity of processed granite imports was recorded, while the average price per tonne remained stable. Ceramic imports recorded a significant increase in value and quantity, while the average price per tonne decreased. Processed marble imports recorded an increase in value and a decrease in quantity, while the average price per tonne increased significantly.
China remains South Korea’s primary supplier of all three materials. However, in ceramic imports the upward trend of imports from Italy continued.
*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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