No. of 1st-time exporters up nearly 4 pct in 2025: data

In 2025, the number of first-time exporters in South Korea saw a notable increase of nearly 4 percent compared to the previous year, according to data released by the Korea Customs Service. This marked the largest year-on-year growth in the past five years. The total count of businesses entering the realm of exports for the first time was 19,746, up from 19,041 a year prior. The surge in first-time exporters injected fresh vigor into the nation's export sector, the agency noted.

The combined exports of these newly minted exporters surged by 13.2 percent from the prior year, reaching a total of US$6.9 billion. This represented the highest export level since 2019. The diverse array of products exported by these first-time businesses was diverse, with machinery and computers contributing 10.9 percent, electrical products at 8.5 percent, and cosmetics accounting for 7 percent of the total.

The average export value per company was calculated at $350,000, with a significant majority, 80 percent, of these first-time exporters having export values falling below $100,000. This data underscores an encouraging trend of new businesses venturing into the global market, contributing to South Korea's export growth.