South Korea EPDM Export Inched Up in H1 2025 with China Remaining the Largest Export Destination
Introduction: South Korea is one of the main exporters of EPDM, the export volume inched up during January-June 2025. China, India and Southeast Asia remained the main export destinations, while the exported EPDM to the U.S. and Europe decreased YoY.
According to data released by Korea Customs Service, in January-June 2025, South Korea’s EPDM export volume was 98,000mt, up 3.11% YoY. The units at Kumho and LVE experienced maintenance at different times, with the Kumho unit experiencing relatively long-term maintenance. Despite unit maintenance at two producers, the launch of the new 70kt/a unit at Kumho played a key role in increasing the overall export volume.
South Korea’s EPDM export volume showed little change, with exports mainly concentrated in China, India and Southeast Asia. China EPDM demand remained stable, while the demand in Europe and Southeast Asia was limited. Coupled with the stable USD price in China, South Korea increased the export volume to China.
Considering the export destinations, South Korea’s overall export destinations remained stable though volumes to individual trade partners fluctuated. In terms of the trade partners, China remained the largest destination with a 36,600mt export volume, increasing by 27.74% YoY. India was the second destination with an 11,600mt export volume, increasing by 1.77% YoY. Exports to these two destinations accounted for 49.06% of South Korea’s total EPDM exports, nearly half of the export volume. So, China and India remained the main destinations for EPDM from South Korea.
In terms of trade volumes with Europe and the United States, South Korea’s EPDM exports to the U.S. totaled 5,700mt during January-June 2025, a 13.21% YoY decline, while exports to Germany fell by 16.08% during the same period. For Southeast Asia, exports to Thailand decreased by 21.92% YoY. Demand in Europe, the U.S. and Southeast Asia was weak, resulting in lower consumption of EPDM. While affected by the U.S. tariff policy, the feedstock consumption decreased further.
In January-June 2025, China’s domestic demand for EPDM remained relatively stable at satisfactory levels. The downstream operating rates in China were passable compared with other countries and regions. Automobile production and sales data reflect this end-market performance. From January to June 2025, China produced and sold 15.621 million and 15.653 million vehicles respectively, representing increases of 12.5% and 11.4% YoY. During the same period, automobile exports reached 3.083 million units, up 10.4% YoY. As the largest downstream sector of EPDM, the automobile industry continued to provide strong support to demand. Therefore, China was the biggest demand market for South Korea. In July, South Korea’s EPDM exports to China may remain high, mainly because Europe and Southeast Asia’s demand was limited.
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