South Korea is America's 5th largest goods trading partner, exporting $115B+ annually in semiconductors, automotive (Hyundai, Kia), steel, consumer electronics (Samsung, LG), and batteries for electric vehicles. Korea-US trade benefits from the KORUS FTA, and Korean semiconductor and battery exports to the US are among the fastest-growing import categories.
| Category | Share of South Korea Exports | Product Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Semiconductors & Electronics | ~28% | Samsung memory chips, LG panels, SK Hynix, electronic components |
| Vehicles & Auto Parts | ~22% | Hyundai, Kia, Genesis vehicles, automotive parts |
| Steel & Metals | ~12% | Flat-rolled steel, galvanized, automotive-grade steel |
| EV Batteries & Components | ~10% | LG Energy Solution, Samsung SDI, SK Innovation batteries |
| Machinery & Equipment | ~8% | Shipbuilding equipment, industrial machinery, OLED manufacturing |
Samsung Semiconductor USA, SK Hynix, and dozens of US tech companies import Korean memory chips, NAND flash, and display panels. These are extremely high-value per-unit imports where a single container can be worth $100M+.
Hyundai Motor America and Kia America import vehicles not manufactured in their US plants (Alabama and Georgia). They also import parts to support US manufacturing. South Korea is a major auto origin alongside Japan and Germany.
LG Energy Solution, Samsung SDI, and SK On are the world's leading EV battery makers. As US EV production ramps up (GM, Ford, Stellantis), battery imports from Korean suppliers are growing dramatically — one of the fastest-expanding freight categories.
Representative records from US CBP public manifest filings — South Korea origin
| Shipper (South Korea) | Product | US Consignee | Entry Port | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD | SEMICONDUCTOR MEMORY MODULES | SAMSUNG SEMICONDUCTOR USA | Los Angeles | 8,400 KG |
| LG ENERGY SOLUTION KOREA | LITHIUM ION BATTERY CELLS | LG ENERGY USA LLC | Savannah | 184,000 KG |
| HYUNDAI MOTOR CO ASAN | PASSENGER VEHICLES | HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA | Baltimore | 384,000 KG |
| POSCO POHANG WORKS | HOT ROLLED STEEL COIL | SERVICE CENTER USA | Houston | 286,000 KG |
"semiconductor" or "memory chip" imports from Samsung, SK Hynix"EV battery" or "lithium battery" from Korean battery manufacturers"Hyundai" or "Kia" vehicle imports to US distribution"steel coil" or "galvanized steel" from POSCO or Hyundai Steel"OLED panel" or "display" from LG or Samsung displaysUS EV production is scaling from hundreds of thousands to millions of vehicles annually. Each EV needs a large battery pack. Korean battery makers (LG Energy, Samsung SDI, SK On) are the dominant suppliers. Securing carrier relationships on the Korea-Savannah and Korea-Baltimore lanes now positions brokers perfectly for a decade of growth.
The Korea-US Free Trade Agreement (KORUS) eliminated tariffs on most goods. This makes Korea-origin imports extremely cost-competitive and helps sustain strong import volumes even as supply chains diversify away from single sources.
A single shipping container of semiconductor wafers or chips can be worth more than an entire vessel of commodity goods. The handling requirements, insurance, and documentation demands justify premium broker fees and create relationships with very low price sensitivity.
Los Angeles/Long Beach is the primary entry for Korean electronics and consumer goods. Baltimore handles Korean automotive (alongside Japanese auto). Savannah is growing rapidly for Korean EV batteries destined for Southeast US manufacturing plants.
Yes — the manifest database includes both the Korean manufacturer (shipper) and the US importer/recipient (consignee). You can see which US automakers and battery pack assemblers are receiving shipments from LG, Samsung, and SK.
Yes. Korean steel is primarily automotive-grade flat-rolled steel (cold-rolled, galvanized, high-strength), unlike Brazilian semifinished steel or Chinese structural steel. Korean mills (POSCO, Hyundai Steel) supply premium automotive steel to US steel service centers.
Yes. Searching for "Samsung Electronics," "LG Chem," "Hyundai Motor," or "POSCO" as shipper names surfaces all US imports from those specific Korean companies, allowing you to track their US supply chain and identify who their freight broker currently is.
10M+ manifest records filtered by country of origin, product, port, and company. Find every US importer sourcing from South Korea.
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