Import from South Korea; quality coming from the East to the country!
South Korea has experienced significant economic growth in recent decades and has become one of the world's economic hubs. With its dynamic economy and the latest technologies, the country has met the import needs of many countries. For this reason, South Korea is known as one of the most important trading partners of countries in the world. A review of trade statistics between Iran and South Korea shows that last year, China, the UAE, and South Korea had the largest volume of goods imported to Iran, respectively. Meanwhile, South Korea's share in exports to Iran has doubled. Brands such as Samsung and Hyundai Santa Fe are produced in South Korea and are famous all over the world. These brands, with their high quality and great popularity, have been able to compete with American and European brands and occupy a large part of the global market. Due to this high quality and variety of products, imports from South Korea to Iran are also of great importance. Currently, most imports from South Korea to Iran are carried out through traders in the UAE and Dubai.
Iran and South Korea have always had close trade cooperation throughout history. Despite problems such as international sanctions against Iran, South Korea is still known as one of the main customers of Iranian oil. Also, with the advancement of technology and industry in South Korea, Iran considers this country to be one of the most important suppliers of household appliances and appliances. In order to import from South Korea, it is necessary to be aware of the conditions for importing from Korea, choose the best goods to import from Korea, and identify the commercial ports of Korea. Before importing goods from South Korea, businessmen should familiarize themselves with the conditions of trade with this country.
Free Trade Zones in South Korea
South Korea has several free trade zones that have been set up to facilitate trade and attract foreign investment. The most important free zones in Korea include the following centers:
Busan Port: Located in the south of South Korea and is one of the most important and crowded ports in Asia. Busan’s strategic location, its proximity to the borders of China and Japan, and its advanced transportation infrastructure have made it an important commercial center in East Asia.
Busan Port has modern infrastructure, large ports, an international airport, and road and rail networks. These infrastructures allow goods to enter and exit Busan easily. Busan Port has a Free Trade Zone. Gimhae International Airport is located near Busan and is one of the busiest airports in South Korea.
Incheon Port: One of the country’s major ports and major cities. This city is located in the northwest of South Korea and west of Seoul. Incheon Port is also an important economic and historical center of Korea.
Incheon Port’s geographical location has made it known as an important recreational and commercial city in South Korea. Incheon Port has the largest airport in South Korea, through which various air connections are established with the whole world.
Masan Port: One of the important ports is located in the southeast of Korea. This port is geographically located near the Sea of Japan and is known as one of the transit centers of sea cargo in South Korea.
Masan Port is of great importance in international transportation of goods due to its geographical features and strategic location. This port is mostly used for transporting petroleum products, chemicals, metals and raw materials. Masan Port also has suitable infrastructure for receiving large ships and clearing cargo. Masan Port has modern transportation infrastructure including roads, railways and airports that allow companies to easily communicate and transport with other regions of the country and the world.
Gwangju: This Korean port should not be confused with Guangzhou, China. Guangzhou is one of the important cities in South Korea and is known as the center of industrial and cultural activities in this region. The city is also known as the host of artistic and cultural events, including the Gwangju Film Festival and the Gwangju Music Festival. Gwangju International Airport is located in Gwangju and serves both domestic and international flights.
Daegu: With a population of over 2.4 million, this city is considered one of the major industrial and commercial centers in the country. Daegu has large markets that offer a variety of products including clothing, electronics, and food products. Seomun Market is one of the famous markets in Daegu, which is best known for shopping for clothes and apparel. Daegu International Airport is located in Daegu and serves both domestic and international flights.
Methods of Shipping Cargo from South Korea to Iran
Factors such as distance from origin to destination, timing, available budget, type of goods, and international laws and policies affect the choice of cargo shipping method. Given the geographical location of South Korea and the long distance between these two countries, most Iranian merchants use these two methods of sea freight and air freight to ship cargo. These two methods are selected based on the type of goods, their volume and weight, the desired delivery time, and the costs associated with transportation. Merchants should act according to their business conditions to choose the best method.
Air freight from Korea
Air freight is one of the fastest methods of transportation and is suitable for goods that require fast delivery. By using international airlines, goods can be delivered to their destination in the shortest possible time. This method is more suitable for light loads such as samples, pharmaceuticals, and electronic products. Air freight is faster and takes much less time than sea freight, but it is more expensive. All airports in South Korea’s commercial areas have cargo facilities and, depending on your needs, you can use them to transport air freight from Korea.
Sea freight from Korea
In this method, cargo is placed in containers and transported using cargo ships from South Korean ports to Iranian ports. This method takes more time than air freight, but is suitable for bulky and heavy loads at a lower cost. Goods are transported to Iran through South Korean ports. This method of delivering goods usually takes longer than air freight, but due to the lower cost, it is cost-effective for some goods. Using this method of shipping cargo from Korea is suitable for heavy loads such as machinery, cars, and vehicles.
Best Goods to Import from South Korea
South Korea is one of the leading countries in exporting its goods and products to other countries. Importing goods from South Korea to Iran has significant economic and commercial benefits, and Iranian businessmen import goods from South Korea, from car parts to household appliances, audio equipment, etc. Among the goods imported from Korea that are in demand in the Iranian market:
- Spare parts
- Import of cosmetics
- Motorized tools and equipment
- Clothing
- South Korean-made cars
- Electronics
- Home appliances
- Industrial machinery and its parts
- Mobile and accessories
- Photo and video cameras
- Telecommunications equipment and supplies
Benefits of importing goods from South Korea
South Korea ranks 7th among 40 Asian and Australian countries in terms of import and export statistics, which is higher than the regional and global average; therefore, importing goods from South Korea is very attractive for Iranian importers. Among the benefits of importing goods from South Korea:
- Product diversity
- High quality
- Reasonable price of goods
- Reasonable import cost
- Using modern technologies in the import and export process
- Creating competition in the domestic market
Steps for importing goods from South Korea to Iran
Although importing goods from Korea to Iran involves the complexity of the customs system and full knowledge of the processes of importing goods from Korea, importing from South Korea still has its appeal for Iranian traders. To import goods from South Korea by domestic or foreign traders, it is necessary to go through the following steps:
- Product selection
- Search for a reliable supplier
- Receive proforma
- Contract conclusion
- Obtaining import permits
- Payment of fees
- Cargo insurance
- Customs clearance and cargo delivery
Air Freight Shipping Cost from South Korea
Due to the lack of direct flights from South Korea to Iran, alternative routes are usually used to ship cargo from Korea to Iran. In this route, your cargo is first sent from South Korea to neighboring countries of Iran such as Turkey, Qatar, the Emirates and other countries. Then, the cargo is transferred to Iran through international ports or airports in each country. For this reason, the cost of air freight shipping from Korea to Iran will vary depending on the initial destination of the cargo delivery. This difference in costs is caused by the route of transportation of goods as well as the existence of international ports and airports in each country. Also, other factors such as the distance from the loading point, type of cargo, volume and weight of the cargo will also be effective in determining the cost of shipping cargo from Korea.
Air Freight from South Korea with Sepex
As mentioned, Iran and South Korea are trying to expand their trade cooperation in various sectors, and this country is considered one of Iran’s main trading partners in Asia, which is why trade and export and import of goods between the two countries are growing. In the process of importing from this country, freight is an important and sensitive process that requires accurate knowledge and understanding of the process of cargo entering the country. To receive detailed information about the routes, costs and conditions of sending cargo from Korea to Iran, contact our experts at Sepex. Sepex experts will help you choose the right route for shipping cargo from South Korea to Iran and provide detailed information about the costs and how to receive Sepex express mail services.
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Frequently asked questions
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Proforma invoice, bill of lading, import permit, certificate of authenticity of goods, etc.
It varies depending on the geographical distance and the method of transportation. If time is an important priority for you in importing goods, choose the air method; because sending your cargo to Iran by air is faster than by sea.
It varies depending on the cargo conditions and time priority. In cases where the volume and weight of the goods are not too large, you can choose to send air cargo from Korea, and for bulky and heavy cargo, sea cargo is a better option.