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South Korea Import Duty Rate for Steel Flat Products

HS 7208–7211 · Flat-rolled products of iron or non-alloy steel

South Korea MFN Import Duty Rate

0–8%

on CIF value

KORUS: 0%

Flat steel 0% MFN; some finished products up to 8%.

Rate varies — verify exact HS subheading at the official tariff schedule.

How duty is calculated

CIF value

Product cost + international freight + insurance

Import duty (0–8%)

Applied to CIF value. EU, UK, and most countries use CIF.

VAT (10%)

Applied to CIF value + duty. Collected at customs.

Use our Landed Cost Calculator to compute the full cost including freight, brokerage, and last-mile delivery.

Worked example: steel flat products worth US$10,000

A commercial shipment invoiced at US$10,000 with US$900 of international freight and insurance. South Korea charges duty on the CIF value (goods + freight + insurance), so the duty base is US$10,900. Customs converts the amount to KRW at the official exchange rate on the day of import.

Charge	At 0%	At 8%
Import duty	$0	$872
VAT (10%)	$1,090	$1,177
Total paid at the border	$1,090	$2,049

VAT is usually recoverable for a registered business, so the cost that stays with you is the duty. The rate depends on the exact subheading, which is why the example shows both ends of the 0–8% range. Excise, anti-dumping duties and broker fees are not included.

Classifying steel flat products correctly

Headings 7208–7212 cover flat-rolled products of iron or non-alloy steel — hot-rolled (7208), cold-rolled (7209), coated (7210) and narrow strip (7211–7212).

Width (600 mm and over vs under) splits 7208–7210 from 7211–7212
Alloy steel goes to 7219–7226
The coating (zinc, tin, aluminium-zinc) decides the 7210 subheading

Compliance. Steel is one of the most trade-remedied products: Section 232 in the US, EU and UK safeguard quotas, anti-dumping duties in most markets, and CBAM in the EU.

Importing into South Korea: what you need

The Korea Customs Service (KCS) clears goods through UNI-PASS; rates are in the Customs Act tariff schedule.

Registration. A business registration number and customs registration; individuals buying from abroad need a Personal Customs Clearance Code (PCCC).

Low-value shipments. Personal-use purchases worth US$150 or less (US$200 from the US under KORUS) are exempt from duty and VAT; commercial imports pay from the first won.

Documents customs will ask for

Import declaration in UNI-PASS
Commercial invoice and packing list
Bill of lading or air waybill
Certificate of origin or origin declaration for FTA rates
KC certification for electrical and children's products

Charges on top of duty

VAT 10% on CIF value + duty
Individual consumption tax on cars, jewellery and other luxury items
Education and rural development taxes on some goods

Watch out. Korea's FTA network is wide — KORUS, the EU and UK FTAs, RCEP and the Korea–China FTA cut many rates to 0%, but each needs its own origin document.

Frequently asked questions

What is the import duty rate for Steel Flat Products in South Korea?

The MFN (Most Favoured Nation) import duty rate for Steel Flat Products (HS 7208–7211) in South Korea is 0–8% on the CIF value. Flat steel 0% MFN; some finished products up to 8%.

Is VAT charged on Steel Flat Products imports to South Korea?

Yes. South Korea charges VAT at 10% on the CIF value plus any import duty. This applies to virtually all commercial imports.

Are there FTA rates available for Steel Flat Products in South Korea?

Yes. KORUS: 0%. KORUS (US), Korea–EU FTA, Korea–UK FTA, RCEP, Korea–ASEAN FTA, Korea–China FTA (CKFTA) are the key agreements — verify origin requirements with your customs broker.

How is import duty calculated for Steel Flat Products entering South Korea?

Duty is calculated on the CIF value of the goods. CIF value includes the product cost, international freight, and insurance. The MFN duty of 0–8% is applied to this value. VAT (10%) is then applied on the duty-paid value.