Based on official statistics, South Korea has gained a rank among the top ten exporting countries of plastics and rubber machinery and equipment. It recovered more than 60% in 2010 with respect to 2009, which earned it a sixth position, immediately after the US. In 2010 the value of South Korean exports of plastics machinery exceeded 1.2 billion euro, with moulds representing 63% of the total, followed by injection moulding machines. Japan, China, India and Mexico were the top destination countries for these exports.
Also worth mentioning is the European Parliament's recent ratification of the Free Trade Agreement between South Korea and the European Union aimed at eliminating Korean customs duties on almost all plastics and rubber machinery imports within the next five years.