Five Largest Cargo Ports in South Korea

South Korea’s ports are critical to its export-driven economy, known globally for its shipbuilding, electronics, and automotive industries.

The following are the most important ports in South Korea:

1. Port of Busan (KRPUS)‍

The Port of Busan is South Korea’s largest and the seventh-busiest container port in the world, serving as a major transshipment hub for goods headed to Europe and the Americas.

• Location: Situated in the southeastern part of South Korea, Busan is located on the Korea Strait, making it a strategic gateway for international trade.
• Key Commodities: Electronics, automotive parts, steel products.
• Annual Container Throughput: 22.1 million TEU (401.3 millions tonnes) in 2022 (Busan Port Authority)
• ‍Non-Containerized Cargo Volume: 23.8 million tonnes in 2022 (Busan Port Authority)

2. Port of Incheon (KRINC)‍

The Port of Incheon is critical for importing raw materials and exporting finished products from South Korea's manufacturing sector, especially due to its proximity to Seoul.

• Location: Located on the northwest coast of South Korea, near Seoul, Incheon sits at the mouth of the Han River and faces the Yellow Sea.
• Key Commodities: Electronics, machinery, chemicals.
• Annual Container Throughput: 3.1 million TEU in 2022 (Lloyd's List)
• Dry Bulk Cargo Volume: 54 million tonnes in 2021 (ResearchGate)
• Liquid Bulk Cargo Volume: 51 million tonnes in 2021 (ResearchGate)

3. Port of Gwangyang (KRKAN)‍

The Port of Gwangyang is heavily involved in the petrochemical and steel industries, making it a major industrial shipping hub for the region. Gwangyang ranks as the leader in both dry and liquid bulk shipments among South Korean ports.

• Location: Positioned in the southern coastal region of South Korea, Gwangyang lies near the city of Yeosu and is located on the South Sea.
• Key Commodities: Steel, petrochemicals, coal.
• Dry Bulk Cargo Volume: 126 million tonnes in 2021 (ResearchGate)
• Liquid Bulk Cargo Volume: 132 million tonnes in 2021 (Research Gate)
• Annual Container Throughput: 1.9 million TEU in 2022 (Lloyd's List)

4. Port of Ulsan (KRUSN)

Known as South Korea’s oil capital, the Port of Ulsan handles significant volumes of oil and petrochemical products, essential to the country’s energy needs.

• Location: Located on the southeast coast of South Korea, Ulsan is situated on the eastern shore of the Korea Strait, adjacent to the city known for its industrial output.
• Key Commodities: Petroleum, chemicals, automobiles.
• Dry Bulk Cargo Volume: 185 million tonnes in 2021 (ResearchGate)
• Liquid Bulk Cargo Volume: 127 million tonnes in 2021 (ResearchGate)
• Annual Container Throughput: 404,445 TEU in 2023 (Ulsan Port Authority)

5. Port of Pohang (KRKPO)‍

The Port of Pohang is closely tied to South Korea’s steel industry, particularly as the home of POSCO, one of the world’s largest steel producers.

• Location: Located on the eastern coast of South Korea, Pohang lies along the Yellow Sea and is known for its proximity to various steel manufacturing facilities.
• Key Commodities: Steel, raw materials, industrial equipment.
• Dry Bulk Cargo Volume: 58 million tonnes in 2021 (ResearchGate)‍