• International Commerce and Information Review
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.175-191
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• 2008

Materials Industry has a very large ripple effect on national economic development. Nevertheless, Korea has been passing over importance of this Industry. So, this study examined competitiveness on ten chief exporting items to U.S.A market based on the understanding of vital role of materials industry in the national economy. Analyzing methods were Market Share, Trade Specialization Index(TSI), and Market Comparative Advantage(MCA) and the data were collected through parts and materials statistical data which produced by Korean Commerce and Industry Minister. From this study, following results were found. i) Highly ranked items of U.S.A market share were chemical fiber drapery weaving, synthetic fiber. These items commanded over 10% share of the same market and tire, steel wire occupied 9.05%, 8.65% respectively. ii) In searching trade balance aspects through TSI, tire and steel wire secured very powerful competitiveness among examined items in trading with U.S.A. while synthetic resins and other plastic material were very weak competitiveness in the same market. iii) Analysis results of market competitiveness by MCA, indicated that chemical fiber drapery weaving, synthetic fiber and tire ensured high-powered competitiveness in U.S.A Market. Therefore, these items would be positioned as main items in the market.

• The Journal of Industrial Distribution & Business
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.33-40
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• 2017

Purpose - This study attempted to discover the impact of the Korea-China FTA(Free Trade Agreement) on electronic products distribution industry. Strategies will be provided to expand both countries' trade after the Korea-China FTA. Research design, data, and methodology - This study analyzed the differences before and after the Korea-China FTA, using an RCA(Revealed Comparative Advantage) index, TC(Technology Sophistication Index) index and TSI(Trade Specialization Index) that considered the FTA tariff situation. Data was collected from the International Trade Statistics Database and Korea, China Customs Service. Results - The results indicate that following the Korea-China FTA, China and Korea's bilateral trade of electronic products is expected to expand, and both countries will experience net welfare gains from the markets' expansion. Korea is competitive in several key products, although it faces competition from China. China's electronic products' competitiveness have indicated an increasing trend. Conclusions - The two countries should closely cooperate and communicate with each other. Ultimately, Korea should focus on high-tech, sophisticated techniques to gain market advantage. On the other hand, with the tariff decrease as well as the labor cost and labor force base, China will greatly be able to benefit from the manufacturing of medium- to low-end products in the future.

• Korea Trade Review
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.59-81
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• 2021

This paper aims to analyze Korea's trade and investment performance in Spain and the business environment of Spain, and to find efficient strategies for entering into the Spanish market. This study is organized into five chapters. To begin with, it explains an overview of the Spanish economy and the current status of its major industries. Then, it analyzes Korea's trade and investment performance in Spain, the structure of comparative advantage and the trade trends of major import and export items, since 2011 when the Korea-EU FTA went into effect. Lastly, based on the results of this analysis, Korea's strategies for entering into the Spanish market are derived. The strategies derived from the analysis are as follows: (1) entering startups in the Spanish market through CVC cooperation and participation in large tech forums, (2) linking the Spanish interest in K-Culture to consumer goods exports, (3) promoting cooperation in the IT industry in response to the Spanish government's 'Connected Industry 4.0', (4) building a new Korean-Spanish value chain in response to the mobility revolution, (5) advancing jointly into a third country by combining the strengths of both Korea and Spain, (6) cooperating with the Spanish government to establish a sustainable energy policy, (7) promoting jointly with the Spanish government through smart city strategies and project exchanges, and (8) building a European logistics hub in Spain in preparation for post-Brexit.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.483-492
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• 2020

In this study, we compared and analyzed the Revealed Comparative Advantage (RCA) and Trade Specialization Index (TSI) based on ballast water management systems (BWMS) trade data, which are related to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Ballast Water Management Convention to suggest the current status of Korea's industrial competitiveness and suggest future development directions for the BWMS industry. As international interest in eco-friendly vessels is expanding, the IMO is engaged in dramatic discussions and agreement-making related to marine emissions of pollutants from ships. IMO member states that must implement this convention are striving to develop technology and secure industrial competitiveness as major industries in the eco-friendly shipping sector, with the BWMS industry experiencing a high market entry barrier and the possibility of the leading market entrants gaining leadership. The Republic of Korea accounts for 17 (approximately 38 %) of the 45 BWMS that received final approval as of October 2019. Based on trade data relating to product codes HS842219, HS84212, and HS89, the RCA index and TSI were calculated and compared. The findings revealed that the Republic of Korea has relative inferiority compared to countries such as Germany and Denmark. Despite this, Korea's favorable industrial environment, which includes several IMO-approved BWMS technologies and the possession of domestic certification institutions, is likely to strengthen its competitiveness in the BWMS market.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.98 no.3
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• pp.231-241
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• 2009

Trade specialization index, import market share, unit value index, market comparative advantage index have been applied to compare the competitiveness of forest products in Korean and European markets for the case of Korea-EU FTA. The results say that no items of non-timber products would show a surge of imports as a result of FTA. Timber products, however, such as non-coniferous plywood, continuously shaped wood (non-coniferous), densified wood, wood wool and flour, other (plywood), other (particle board, 441039)), other (fiberboard), oriented strand board (other), other (particle board, 441090), other (particle board, 441031), Prefabricated buildings of wood, fibreboard (of a density exceeding $0.5g/cm^3$ but not exceeding $0.8g/cm^3$), wooden frames (for paintings, photographs, mirrors or similar objects) and wood marquetry and inlaid wood are expected to increase of their imports by eliminating tariffs. For Korean exports no items of non-timber products have competitiveness in European market. For Korean pyroligneous liquid, which is the only competitive timber product in EU market in terms of MCA and TSI, it is difficult to decide whether it has competitiveness, since the actual exports have taken place occasionally during a period of last five years.

• International Commerce and Information Review
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.25-39
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• 2013

This study is to analyze Gwangju's trade structures with China, Japan and the United Sates, and to contribute, through clarification of product competitiveness, to minimizing free-trade-induced costs as well as maximizing profits from free trade. To obtain this study purpose, two export competitiveness indicators are used; they are Trade Specialization Index (TSI) and Grubel & Lloyd(GL) Index. Intra-industry trade is examined to see if there exists a technological gap between nations. Intra-industry trade is divided into two; Low Quality Vertical Intra-Industry Trade (LQVIIT) and High Quality Vertical Intra-Industry Trade (HQVIIT). Gwangju's trade with China is HQVIIT; Gwangju exports high-quality and high-priced items to China, and imports low-quality and low-priced ones. On the other hand, Gwangu's trade with Japan is mainly LQVIIT; Gwangju exports low-quality and low-priced processed stuffs to Japan, and imports high-quality and high-priced ones from Japan. While Korea-US is mainly of both high-quality and low-quality Vertical Intra-Industry Trade; Gwangju exports low-quality and low-priced items as well as high-quality and high-priced items to the USA. Based on the analysis result, export marketing strategies are presented as follows: the transition to high value-added export system, the local entry networking, government support for trade exhibition, offer of special program on local small businesses.

• International Commerce and Information Review
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.345-364
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• 2013

This paper analyzed the Trade Structure of environmental industry in Korea and some major countries in preparation for The Doha Development Agenda (DDA) Trade Liberalization Negotiation in the environmental goods. Based on 161 environmental goods list proposed by OECD, this paper examined the Trade Returns of worldwide environmental goods during the past 10 years from 2002 to 2011. The analysis showed that Korean environmental goods' International Market Share(IMS) in the world was 3.2%; trade specialization index(TSI) -0.128; Revealed Comparative Advantage(RCA) 1.002 in 2011. And Korea Export Similarity Index(ESI) to Japan was the highest rank in the world market. According to the results of investigation, it is clear that International Competitiveness of the Korean Environmental Industry was received a relatively poor evaluation compared with Korean trade scale. To strengthen the competitiveness, it is required that Korean government should make an effort to boost domestic environmental industry and promote systematically Trade Liberalization Negotiation including the enforcement of transient period for Korean environmental goods in the next DDA Negotiation.

• International Commerce and Information Review
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.205-234
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• 2011

The study analyzes the shifts of international competition in the digital products market between South Korea and major FTA partners. The analysis utilizes trade statistics to calculate changes in the volume of trade, and in competitiveness between FTA partners. The target countries for this analysis include USA and the European Union with whom Korea has made agreements recently, and the period is set for the decade from 2000 to 2009. The trade records of the UN are employed to investigate the indexes of each country: trade structure and market share of digital products, the trade specialization index (TSI), and annual change of revealed comparative advantage index (RCA) against global market and both the American and EU markets. This analysis shows clearly the status quo of the development and growth of the international competitiveness of South Korea. The study will improve the understanding of international competitiveness in digital products and contents industry, which is rapidly evolving, and of the resulting industrial structure.

• International Commerce and Information Review
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.317-346
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• 2012

Korea's export economy across all industries are affected by the rise of China. The field of cosmetics can not be an exception. Expansion of the export of Chinese cosmetic goods can bring a greater concern to the export of Korea. Therefore, comparing the competitiveness of cosmetics in China and Korea will propose Implications for export growth strategy. To this end, comparing Korea cosmetic product's competitiveness with China, Revealed Comparative Advantage Index (RCA), Trade Specialization Index (TSI) and the status of import and export countries were comprehensively analyzed. In the case of Korea, items that have a competitive over China were No. 330499 and No. 330510. The following items in proportion were No. 330430 and No. 330590. By strengthening its position of these four items as major export items of Korea Cosmetics, export growth strategy in China and other markets around the world is needed.

• Journal of Korea Port Economic Association
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.107-120
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• 2020

This study analyzed the competitiveness of major export industries following the FTA between Korea and five Central American countries. Findings revealed that Korea mainly exports industrial products such as ships, automobiles and parts, steel, and electronic devices, and it imports raw materials and agricultural products such as coffee and copper, indicating a complementary trade structure. Similarly, the trade specialization index analysis revealed that Korea specialized in exporting industrial products such as ships, automobiles, steel, and machinery, and in importing primary products such as copper and coffee. Products such as ships, steel, and machinery, which are major export items to Central America, are expected to further strengthen their competitiveness due to tariff cuts. In addition, it is expected that the demand for medicines and medical supplies could increase in future due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This study attempted to present implications for establishing export strategies by analyzing the competitiveness of Korea's major export industries in the Central American market, in accordance with the Korean-Central American FTA. These findings could be used as basic data for future entry into South America as a bridgehead in the Central American market.