The U.S. and South Korea have entered 2025 under a new trade framework that sets a flat 15% tariff on all South Korean goods entering the American market. As one of the United States’ largest trading partners, South Korea ships billions of dollars’ worth of products each year, from semiconductors and automotive parts to consumer electronics and industrial machinery.

Tracking booking shifts offers valuable insight into how trade flows between the two nations are adapting in real time. This analysis builds on recent coverage of other tariff shifts, including India–U.S. booking trends, Indonesia–U.S. booking trends, and Japan–U.S. booking trends.

2025 weekly bookings average 13,073 TEUs, 16% below 2024 and 24% above 2023

*Interactive: Scroll or hover to see weekly TEU volumes for each year

In 2025, South Korea to U.S. weekly container bookings have averaged 13,073 TEUs through Week 31, about 16% lower than 2024 but 24% higher than 2023. Volumes have generally ranged between 10,000 and 16,000 TEUs per week, with a median of 13,182 TEUs, indicating a steadier cadence than the larger swings of prior years. Two clear surges stand out, Week 8 at 17,342 TEUs and Week 20 at 17,755 TEUs, both well above any weekly peak in 2023. Following the Week 20 high, the weekly average eased by roughly 10%, from 13,553 TEUs in Weeks 1 to 20 to 12,201 TEUs in Weeks 21 to 31, suggesting a period of normalization after front-loaded shipping activity. Aside from an early outlier in Week 5 at just 3,294 TEUs, the trend has remained consistently in the mid-teens.

Similar to the spike seen in Brazil–U.S. bookings ahead of a 50% tariff, South Korea to U.S. volumes jumped in Week 8 and Week 20 as shippers moved to get goods across before higher costs took effect.

The week-over-week and year-over-year changes reveal how volatile booking momentum has been in 2025, even within the overall steadier range of volumes. The most dramatic movement came early in the year, with Week 5 plunging 76.8% WoW to just 3,294 TEUs before rebounding 395% the following week. This rebound was followed by a series of pre-tariff gains, culminating in a 12.6% WoW increase in Week 8 and a 34.7% jump in Week 20. Both surges delivered rare double-digit YoY growth in a year otherwise marked by persistent deficits compared to 2024.

Several post-tariff weeks show sharp pullbacks, including Weeks 21 and 23, each with WoW declines exceeding 27%, underscoring the cooling effect of front-loaded shipments earlier in the year. While there were bright spots such as Week 24’s 61.9% WoW jump and 32.4% YoY gain, these were exceptions rather than the rule. Overall, the heatmap points to a market where short-term booking momentum has been more reactive to policy changes and cost considerations than to seasonal demand patterns.

Daily booking trends show front-loaded activity followed by stable mid-year flows

*Interactive: Scroll or hover to see daily TEU volume

Daily booking data from May through early August 2025 highlights a front-loaded surge in activity during the first two weeks of May, when several days exceeded 4,500 TEUs. This early push aligns with shippers rushing to move goods ahead of the 15% tariff’s full impact. After mid-May, volumes settled into a steadier pattern, with most days falling between 1,500 and 2,500 TEUs and the 7-day moving average holding in a narrow range.

While small spikes occurred in late June and mid-July, they were less pronounced than the early May highs, indicating that the most significant tariff-related front-loading happened in the first part of the observation period. By early August, daily volumes trended modestly lower, suggesting that demand had normalized and shippers were spacing out bookings more evenly rather than compressing them into short-term bursts.

Top product categories show vehicles leading with repeated surges

*Interactive: Scroll to explore products and their TEU volumes

In 2025, vehicles (HS Code 87) have been the clear leader in South Korea to U.S. shipments, consistently posting the highest weekly TEU volumes and peaking above 3,500 TEUs in Weeks 3, 20, and 25. These spikes account for a significant share of the lane’s total volume and suggest concentrated shipping windows for automotive exports.

Machinery (HS Code 84) has held a steady second position, ranging mostly between 1,000 and 1,500 TEUs per week, with brief surges above 1,700 TEUs in Weeks 8 and 19. Electrical equipment (HS Code 85) has maintained consistent volumes around 700 to 1,000 TEUs, showing less volatility than other top categories. Plastics (HS Code 39) recorded notable growth in Weeks 6, 8, and 20, while aluminum (HS Code 76) saw sharp but short-lived increases, particularly in Weeks 15 and 21. Iron and steel products (HS Code 73) remain the smallest of the tracked categories but still contribute measurable weekly volumes, with peaks above 350 TEUs in Weeks 2, 13, and 29.

The timing of these peaks, especially in vehicles and machinery, aligns closely with the broader weekly surges seen on the lane, indicating that high-volume product groups are driving the lane’s short-term momentum.

2025 U.S. to South Korea bookings track just below 2024 but remain above 2023 levels

*Interactive: Scroll or hover to see weekly TEU volumes for each year

Through Week 31, U.S. to South Korea weekly container bookings in 2025 have averaged 7,040 TEUs, about 1% lower than 2024’s pace but roughly 8% higher than 2023. Volumes have generally held between 5,400 and 8,000 TEUs per week, with occasional surges above that range. The largest spike came in Week 9 at 9,954 TEUs, followed by Week 11 at 9,110 TEUs, both outpacing any week in 2024. Additional strength appeared in Week 20 at 7,966 TEUs and Week 29 at 8,631 TEUs, though these gains were more modest. Unlike the import lane from South Korea, the export side shows no evidence of significant front-loading, with flows instead holding a stable mid-year cadence.

In 2025, U.S. to South Korea bookings opened with a soft start, with Week 1 volumes of 5,947 TEUs down 32.4% year over year. Momentum quickly rebounded in Week 2 with a 24.6% week-over-week gain, and Week 4 posted a sharp 42.8% increase over the prior week. The most notable surge came in Week 9, climbing 72.9% WoW and 27% YoY to reach 9,954 TEUs, the highest weekly total so far this year.

From mid-March through mid-July, the lane saw alternating periods of modest growth and pullbacks. Weeks 14 and 20 stood out with strong year-over-year gains of 22.9% and 24.7% respectively, while Weeks 15 and 18 posted steep double-digit declines. Late July brought renewed strength, with Week 25 up 23.6% YoY and Week 29 delivering the second-largest YoY gain of the year at 28.4%.

Daily booking trends show frequent short bursts rather than prolonged surges

*Interactive: Scroll or hover to see daily TEU volume

From May through early August 2025, U.S. to South Korea bookings have displayed a pattern of frequent, short-lived bursts rather than sustained periods of elevated volume. Daily totals occasionally exceeded 2,000 TEUs, most notably on June 4, July 11, July 14, and July 28, but these highs were often followed by sharp pullbacks. The 7-day moving average generally held between 900 and 1,200 TEUs, suggesting a stable underlying pace despite the intermittent spikes.

Unlike the South Korea to U.S. lane, where early May front loading was evident, the export side’s peaks are scattered throughout the observation period. Activity in mid-July was particularly volatile, with July 14 hitting the second highest daily total of the period at 2,613 TEUs before volumes normalized within days. By early August, the moving average dipped slightly, indicating that while short bursts of activity continue, the lane has not entered a sustained growth phase.

Get Ahead with Early Trade Intelligence

Vizion’s TradeView platform gives you live visibility into:

1. Booking trends by country, product type, HS code, or commodity
2. Changes by country or port
3. Shipment behavior by consignee, shipper, and logistics provider

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