EU–South Korea › Optical, medical & precision instruments
EU–South Korea trade in optical, medical & precision instruments
In May 2026, the EU exported €242M of optical, medical & precision instruments to South Korea and imported €136M — a €106M surplus in this category.
The EU's optical, medical & precision instruments surplus with South Korea has narrowed by about 21% over the past year, from €134M to €106M.
South Korea supplied about 2% of the EU's extra-EU imports of optical, medical & precision instruments in May 2026.
Updated monthly · latest data May 2026
— EU exports— EU imports137 months · latest 2026-05
EU exports
€242M
EU imports
€136M
Balance
€106M
Top sub-categories traded with South Korea
EU exports →
- 9018Instruments and appliances used in medical, surgical, dental or veterinary sciences, incl. scintigraphic apparatus, other electro-medical apparatus and sight-testing instruments, n.e.s.€42M
- 9027Instruments and apparatus for physical or chemical analysis, e.g. polarimeters, refractometers, spectrometers, gas or smoke analysis apparatus; instruments and apparatus for measuring or checking viscosity, porosity, expansion, surface tension or the like; instruments and apparatus for measuring or checking quantities of heat, sound or light, incl. exposure meters; microtomes€41M
- 9031Measuring or checking instruments, appliances and machines not elsewhere specified in chapter 90; profile projectors€28M
- 9021Orthopaedic appliances, incl. crutches, surgical belts and trusses; splints and other fracture appliances; artificial parts of the body; hearing aids and other appliances which are worn or carried, or implanted in the body, to compensate for a defect or disability€25M
- 9013Liquid crystal devices not constituting articles provided for more specifically in other heading; lasers (excl. laser diodes); other optical appliances and instruments not elsewhere specified in chapter 90€19M
← EU imports
- 9018Instruments and appliances used in medical, surgical, dental or veterinary sciences, incl. scintigraphic apparatus, other electro-medical apparatus and sight-testing instruments, n.e.s.€40M
- 9031Measuring or checking instruments, appliances and machines not elsewhere specified in chapter 90; profile projectors€18M
- 9022Apparatus based on the use of X-rays or of alpha, beta or gamma radiations, whether or not for medical, surgical, dental or veterinary uses, incl. radiography or radiotherapy apparatus, X-ray tubes and other X-ray generators, high tension generators, control panels and desks, screens, examination or treatment tables, chairs and the like€14M
- 9032Regulating or controlling instruments and apparatus (excl. taps, cocks and valves of heading 8481)€9.9M
- 9027Instruments and apparatus for physical or chemical analysis, e.g. polarimeters, refractometers, spectrometers, gas or smoke analysis apparatus; instruments and apparatus for measuring or checking viscosity, porosity, expansion, surface tension or the like; instruments and apparatus for measuring or checking quantities of heat, sound or light, incl. exposure meters; microtomes€8.3M
Monthly figures
| Month | EU exports | EU imports | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2026 | €242M | €136M | €106M |
| April 2026 | €273M | €138M | €136M |
| March 2026 | €283M | €180M | €104M |
| February 2026 | €255M | €124M | €131M |
| January 2026 | €231M | €122M | €110M |
| December 2025 | €326M | €145M | €181M |
| November 2025 | €280M | €139M | €141M |
| October 2025 | €287M | €151M | €136M |
| September 2025 | €390M | €161M | €228M |
| August 2025 | €271M | €117M | €154M |
| July 2025 | €258M | €141M | €117M |
| June 2025 | €312M | €175M | €137M |
| May 2025 | €258M | €124M | €134M |
| April 2025 | €302M | €141M | €161M |
| March 2025 | €360M | €160M | €199M |
| February 2025 | €310M | €136M | €174M |
| January 2025 | €288M | €143M | €144M |
| December 2024 | €359M | €121M | €239M |
| November 2024 | €316M | €133M | €183M |
| October 2024 | €328M | €215M | €113M |
| September 2024 | €399M | €128M | €271M |
| August 2024 | €305M | €110M | €195M |
| July 2024 | €341M | €142M | €199M |
| June 2024 | €350M | €135M | €216M |
EU exports, imports and balance by month — extra-EU, EU27 reporter, latest 24 months.
Related trade lanes
EU–China · Optical, medical & precision instruments →EU–United States · Optical, medical & precision instruments →EU–United Kingdom · Optical, medical & precision instruments →EU–Japan · Optical, medical & precision instruments →EU–India · Optical, medical & precision instruments →EU–South Korea · all goods →
Source: Eurostat — Comext DS-059341 · EU27 reporter · extra-EU trade · value in EUR. Figures are indicative and may be revised; verify against Eurostat before relying on them.