Chairman Eun Sung-soo of the Export and Import Bank of Korea (Eximbank). (Photo: Eximbank)

The Export and Import Bank of Korea (Korea Eximbank) is ready to provide 62 trillion won in investments, loans and 13 trillion won in credit guarantees this year to help the Korean firms clinch project orders overseas.

Korea Eximbank will operate under guidelines to support Korean firms to boost their competitiveness in overseas operations, especially in areas of business exploration and consultancy services in foreign countries loaded with natural resources and huge markets. The target of the guideline is to build 10 emerging markets for products and services for Korean firms by 2020.

The bank has already picked a number of foreign countries to focus on this year, including the U.S., Russia, India, Uzbekistan, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Indonesia and Myanmar.
The state-run bank is also focusing on the syndication businesses in addition to the usual financial support involving takeovers and M&As overseas, and financing the sales of ships and planes.

The bank also plans to strengthen its cooperation with global financial institutions in such areas as investment banking, multi-development financing, and export credits. The bank is out to boost its support to the Korean firms connected with the New Southern Strategy and the New Northern Strategy.

The Export-Import Bank of Korea (Korea Eximbank) is an official export credit agency providing comprehensive export credit and guarantee programs to support Korean enterprises in conducting overseas business. Since its establishment in 1976, the bank has actively supported Korea's export-led economy and facilitated economic cooperation with foreign countries.
Korea Eximbank's primary services include export loans, trade finance, and guarantee programs structured to meet the needs of clients in a direct effort to both complement and strengthen the clients' competitiveness in global markets.

The bank also provides overseas investment credit, natural resources development credit, import credit, and information services related to business opportunities abroad. Furthermore, the bank is responsible for the operation of two government funds: the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF), a Korean Official Development Assistance program, and the Inter-Korean Cooperation Fund (IKCF), an economic cooperation program with North Korea.

Three of South Korea’s 10 largest export companies operate in the global automotive industry. Two Korean electronics industry players also rank among the Asian country’s top 10 exporters, as do a pair of Korean competitors from the oil and gas sector.

In the analysis below, we compare 10 of South Korea’s top export companies based on asset values, sales and profitability as of December 2018. Also presented is the Korean city where each business has its headquarters.

Below are South Korea’s biggest export companies organized by asset value. Shown within parentheses is the primary industry in which each business operates. Also shown is the change in asset value as of December 2018 compared to May 2017.

1. Samsung Electronics (semiconductors): $293.2 billion, up 35.1% from 2017
2. Hyundai Motor (car/truck makers): $164.7 billion, up 11.2%
3. Hanwha (products trading, explosives): $149.6 billion, up 16.7%
4. SK Holdings (oil, gas): $102.5 billion, up 20.2%
5. Posco (iron, steel): $75.6 billion, up 14.5%
6. KIA Motors (car/truck makers): $49.6 billion, up 17.8%
7. Hyundai Mobis (automotive parts): $39.6 billion, up 14.8%
8. LG Electronics (consumer electronics): $38.7 billion, up 23.6%
9. SK Innovation (iron, steel): $32 billion, up 18.5%
10. Hyundai Heavy Industries (heavy equipment): $28.4 billion, down -30.4%