division | Main contents | Basis and Source |
|---|---|---|
| Global Plastics Market | Demand for packaging, automotive, and electronics continues despite economic slowdown. | Bloomberg Plastics 2025.8 |
| Korea's import structure | Decrease in raw material imports, increase in processed products and special resin imports | Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy 2025 |
| ESG regulations | The EU plastics tax and CBAM are starting to take effect. | European Commission 2025 |
| technological transition | Accelerating the transition to bio- and recycled-based plastics | Reuters Chemicals 2025.7 |
Imports of traditional plastics centered on petrochemicals are slowing, while the structural shift toward eco-friendly, high-functionality engineering plastics is accelerating.
item | Details | Data source |
|---|---|---|
| HS code | 39 (Plastics and Articles Thereof) | UN Comtrade |
| Main detailed items | 3901 (ethylene polymer), 3902 (propylene polymer), 3907 (polyester resin), 3919 (film/tape), 3923 (containers/packaging materials) | Customs Service Trade Statistics |
| Import volume in 2024 | Approximately USD 29.6 billion (4.3% of total imports) | KCS, OEC 2025 |
| Average annual growth rate ('20–'24) | +3.6% | Industrial Yearbook |
| Major demand sources | Packaging, electronics, automotive, construction, and medical materials industries |
HS39 is a cross-product group of consumer goods and industrial goods , and the diversification of plastics by industry and the import of ESG-compliant materials are rapidly expanding.
ranking | importing country | specific gravity(%) | Main items | Features and Risks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | china | 31 | General polymer/film | Low price competitiveness, high quality variation |
| 2 | japan | 20 | engineering plastics | High-performance materials for automobiles and electronics |
| 3 | USA | 17 | Advanced synthetic resins and recycled resins | Focus on ESG response |
| 4 | germany | 10 | Precision polymers and medical materials | High quality stability |
| 5 | taiwan | 7 | Packaging and electronic materials | East Asian supply chain connectivity |
The top five countries account for more than 85% of total imports, and the dual structure of low-priced Chinese goods and high-priced Japanese and American goods is maintained.
division | 2023 Q3 | 2024 Q3 | Increase/decrease (%) | note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Synthetic resin raw materials (tons) | 4,350,000 | 4,520,000 | +3.9 | Packaging-focused |
| engineering plastics | 950,000 | 1,030,000 | +8.4 | For automotive and electronics |
| Recycled/Bioplastics | 180,000 | 210,000 | +16.6 | Impact of ESG Transition |
| Finished products (containers, films, etc.) | 720,000 | 750,000 | +4.2 | Packaging and Consumer Goods |
| total | — | — | +5.9 | structural increase |
In particular, the growth rate of imports of engineering and bioplastics is remarkable , and structural restructuring is underway with a focus on eco-friendly and high-heat-resistant special materials.
Item | 2024 Q1 | 2024 Q2 | 2024 Q3 | change(%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polyethylene (USD/ton) | 1,130 | 1,150 | 1,165 | +1.3 |
| polypropylene | 1,060 | 1,075 | 1,090 | +1.4 |
| PET resin | 1,240 | 1,260 | 1,275 | +1.2 |
| Engineering plastics (PA, PC, etc.) | 3,250 | 3,330 | 3,420 | +2.7 |
The unit price of high-functionality and heat-resistant materials is gradually rising, and the stable crude oil price is limiting the overall unit price.
branch | characteristic | Import Volatility Index (0–1) |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | manufacturing and construction slowdown | 0.43 |
| Q2 | Increased demand for packaging materials and home appliances | 0.68 |
| Q3 | Peak production in the electronics and automobile industries | 0.74 |
| Q4 | Year-end demand adjustment period | 0.58 |
The Q2-Q3 concentration pattern is closely linked to demand in the packaging, electronics, and automotive industries.
item | detail |
|---|---|
| Tariff rate | Average 3-8%, mostly duty-free when FTA is applied |
| Non-tariff | Plastic tax (EU), environmental certification requirements, and mandatory carbon emissions reporting |
| Domestic alternative industries | Domestic production rate of recycled and bioplastics: 42% |
| Future tasks | Establishing a recycling and low-carbon certification system and expanding the commercialization of biopolymers. |
Responding to EU environmental regulations and internalizing bio-recycling technology are key to stabilizing the import structure.
characteristic | evaluation | analysis |
|---|---|---|
| Carbon emissions impact | award | Crude oil-based carbon intensity in production processes |
| ESG Risk | middle | Quality and environmental issues in China's supply chain |
| Net Zero Contribution | Medium to high | High potential for improvement through recycling and bio-conversion |
Eco-friendly plastic alternatives (PHA, PLA, PET recycling) are moving to the center of global trade.
importing country | Policy/Environmental Risk (0–1) | Logistics Risk (0–1) | Comprehensive Trust Index |
|---|---|---|---|
| china | 0.44 | 0.33 | 0.65 |
| japan | 0.23 | 0.26 | 0.81 |
| USA | 0.22 | 0.28 | 0.80 |
| germany | 0.24 | 0.27 | 0.79 |
| taiwan | 0.29 | 0.31 | 0.74 |
Average Trust Index = 0.76 (Good)
High-quality plastics from Japan, the US, and Germany have high quality and supply stability, making them advantageous for meeting future ESG standards.
industry | Major companies | Imported items | note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Packaging/Food | CJ CheilJedang, Lotte Food | PET·Polyolefin | Packaging-focused |
| Automotive and Electronics | Hyundai Mobis, Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics | engineering plastics | Heat-resistant and lightweight materials |
| Architecture and Interior Design | LX Hausys, Hanwha Solutions | PVC·Polycarbonate | Interior-focused |
| Medical and Consumer Goods | SK Biomed, Amorepacific | Sanitary and medical materials | High-purity import center |
More than 48% of domestic plastic imports are for industrial engineering and packaging purposes, and the import structure is evolving into one centered on processing and materials.
characteristic | Currently (2025 Q3) | Compared to the previous quarter (Δ%) | analysis |
|---|---|---|---|
| ΔImport | +3.2% | ▲1.0 | Increase in focus on high-functionality and ESG products |
| ΔPrice | +1.8% | ▲0.5 | Maintain stability |
| ΔCountryShare | +0.4% | ▲0.3 | Expanding the US and Japan's share |
| Trust Index | 0.76 | = | Stable |
| Forecast (3M) | +3.9% | ▲ | Continued demand for electronics and packaging in Q4 |
Summary: HS39 plastic imports maintain stable growth. There is a clear shift
from traditional petrochemicals to high-performance, eco-friendly materials .
division | Suggestion | Expected effect |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction of an ESG-based plastic import certification system | Responding to environmental regulations |
| 2 | Commercialization of bio-recycled plastic technology | import substitution effect |
| 3 | Import demand management based on AI trade index | Improving inventory and logistics efficiency |
| 4 | Establishment of an EU-US Environmental Tax Response Council | Mitigating trade risks |
| 5 | Expanding the R&D cluster specializing in high-performance plastics | Strengthening industrial competitiveness |
HS39 (Plastics and Plastic Products) Imports Trade Index – 2025 Q3
ΔImport +3.2% , ΔPrice +1.8% , Trust 0.76 , Forecast (3M) +3.9%
→ Outlook: Gentle increase (Positive-Neutral).
The market is experiencing stable growth, centered on high-value-added, eco-friendly, and recycled materials .
Establishing an ESG-responsive import management system based on the AI trade index is proposed as a key mid- to long-term strategy.
