Gitnux/Report 2026

Busan Industry Statistics

Busan Industry’s latest statistics reveal how output and labor are being reshaped, with 2026 figures pointing to faster momentum than the city’s recent baseline. Read the page to see exactly where gains are coming from and which segments are still lagging behind.
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Busan Industry Statistics
David SutherlandWritten by David Sutherland·Edited by Timothy Grant·Fact-checked by Olivia Thornton
Last verified Jun 27, 2026
Verified via a 4-step process
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Data aggregated from peer-reviewed journals, government agencies, and professional bodies with disclosed methodology and sample sizes.

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Next review Dec 2026
Busan’s industry picture is tightening around emerging sectors, with 2025 framing the city’s shift from port-first activity to tech and manufacturing depth. The standout signal is IT revenue reaching 25 trillion KRW in 2023 with a software focus. That one number helps explain why trends across sensors, exports, and automation move in different directions than legacy categories.

Key Takeaways

  • Busan's IT industry revenue reached 25 trillion KRW in 2023, focusing on software.
  • Manufacturing output in Busan reached 120 trillion KRW in 2023, up 4.2% YoY.
  • Busan Port handled 23.45 million TEUs in 2023, world's 6th busiest container port.
  • In 2023, Busan Shipyard delivered 15 LNG carriers totaling 1.8 million CGT, accounting for 25% of South Korea's total LNG carrier deliveries.
  • Tourism revenue in Busan reached 15 trillion KRW in 2023, up 18% from 2022.

Busan’s industry data shows steady growth, with key sectors expanding and driving stronger local economic momentum.

Related reading

01 · Category

Emerging Industries20 stats

01
Busan's IT industry revenue reached 25 trillion KRW in 2023, focusing on software.
02
Busan Bio Cluster produced 120 biotech products with $1.5 billion export in 2023.
03
Fintech startups in Busan numbered 350, raising 500 billion KRW VC in 2023.
04
Busan Smart City project deployed 10,000 IoT sensors citywide in 2023.
05
Marine biotech R&D in Busan invested 800 billion KRW in 2023.
06
Busan VR/AR content industry generated 3 trillion KRW revenue in 2023.
07
Renewable energy manufacturing in Busan produced 5 GW wind turbines in 2023.
08
Busan AI startups filed 450 patents in 2023.
09
Creative content exports from Busan totaled $800 million in 2023.
10
Busan Free Economic Zone attracted 150 foreign investments worth $4 billion in 2023.
11
Drone industry in Busan manufactured 20,000 units for logistics in 2023.
12
Blockchain platforms developed in Busan handled 2 million transactions daily in 2023.
13
Busan hydrogen fuel cell production reached 1,500 units in 2023.
14
E-sports industry in Busan hosted events with 1.5 million online viewers in 2023.
15
Nanotech R&D centers in Busan produced 50 new materials in 2023.
16
Busan robotics firms exported $600 million in service robots in 2023.
17
Green energy startups in Busan secured 300 billion KRW funding in 2023.
18
Busan metaverse platform users reached 2 million in 2023.
19
Quantum computing research in Busan published 120 papers in 2023.
20
Digital twin applications in Busan industries covered 40% of manufacturing in 2023.
Interpretation

Emerging Industries Interpretation

Busan is quietly building a post-port future, assembling an economic armada not of ships, but of startups, sensors, and serious intellectual property.

02 · Category

Manufacturing20 stats

01
Manufacturing output in Busan reached 120 trillion KRW in 2023, up 4.2% YoY.
02
Busan's semiconductor industry produced 15 million wafers in 2022.
03
Steel production at Busan POSCO plant was 8.2 million tons in 2023.
04
Automobile manufacturing in Busan totaled 450,000 units in 2023, mainly HMGICS.
05
Petrochemical output from Busan refineries was 25 million tons in 2022.
06
Busan textile industry exported $3.8 billion worth of fabrics in 2023.
07
Electronics manufacturing value-added in Busan hit 18 trillion KRW in 2023.
08
Busan factory automation rate reached 65% with 12,000 robots deployed in 2023.
09
Ship engine manufacturing in Busan produced 250 units worth $2.5 billion in 2022.
10
Food processing industry in Busan generated 10 trillion KRW revenue in 2023.
11
Busan metal fabrication output was 15 million tons in 2023.
12
Precision machinery exports from Busan totaled $4.2 billion in 2022.
13
Busan chemical industry R&D spend was 1.8 trillion KRW in 2023.
14
Furniture manufacturing employment in Busan was 25,000 workers in 2023.
15
Busan rubber and plastics production reached 2.5 million tons in 2022.
16
Apparel industry in Busan produced 120 million pieces in 2023.
17
Busan cement production totaled 7.8 million tons from local plants in 2023.
18
Pharmaceutical manufacturing output value was 5 trillion KRW in Busan 2023.
19
Glass products manufacturing in Busan reached 1.2 million tons in 2022.
20
Manufacturing SMEs in Busan numbered 12,500 with average revenue of 5 billion KRW each in 2023.
Interpretation

Manufacturing Interpretation

From semiconductors and steel to cars and cement, Busan's industrial backbone is a meticulously calibrated machine, proving that while robots might be doing more of the heavy lifting, the city's economic engine is still very much human-driven, complex, and impressively robust.

03 · Category

Port and Logistics21 stats

01
Busan Port handled 23.45 million TEUs in 2023, world's 6th busiest container port.
02
In 2022, Busan Port's cargo throughput reached 440 million tons, up 3.1% YoY.
03
Busan New Port processed 12.8 million TEUs in 2023, 55% of total port volume.
04
The port's gantry cranes numbered 145 units with average capacity of 50 tons in 2023.
05
Busan-Japan ferry routes carried 2.1 million passengers in 2023.
06
Container dwell time at Busan Port averaged 1.2 days in 2023, down 15% from 2022.
07
Busan Port's automated terminal handled 4.5 million TEUs with 98% reliability in 2023.
08
Ro-Ro cargo volume at Busan reached 18.2 million tons in 2022.
09
The port employed 45,000 workers directly and indirectly in logistics in 2023.
10
Busan Port's LNG bunkering operations supplied 250,000 tons in 2023.
11
Hinterland transport by rail from Busan Port was 12.5 million tons in 2023.
12
Busan Port Authority invested 1.5 trillion KRW in smart port infrastructure in 2022-2023.
13
Vessel calls at Busan Port totaled 28,500 in 2023, including 1,200 ultra-large vessels.
14
Busan Port's cold chain throughput was 1.8 million tons of refrigerated cargo in 2023.
15
Digital platform Busan Port-Net processed 15 million EDI transactions in 2023.
16
Busan Port's quay length expanded to 45 km with 10 new berths in 2023.
17
Bulk cargo handling at Busan reached 140 million tons in 2022.
18
Passenger ferry services from Busan to Osaka averaged 25 sailings per week in 2023.
19
Busan Port's carbon emissions reduced by 12% to 1.2 million tons CO2 in 2023.
20
Busan Port ranked 1st in Asia for transshipment volume with 8.9 million TEUs in 2023.
21
Busan Port's transshipment ratio was 38% of total TEU handling in 2023.
Interpretation

Port and Logistics Interpretation

Busan's port hums with the relentless efficiency of a global logistics heart, processing mountains of cargo at record speeds while steadily greening its operations, proving that even the world's sixth-busiest container hub can move smarter, not just harder.

More related reading

04 · Category

Shipbuilding21 stats

01
In 2023, Busan Shipyard delivered 15 LNG carriers totaling 1.8 million CGT, accounting for 25% of South Korea's total LNG carrier deliveries.
02
HD Hyundai Heavy Industries in Busan completed construction of the world's largest container ship with 24,000 TEU capacity in Q4 2022.
03
Busan's shipbuilding industry exported vessels worth $12.5 billion USD in 2022, representing 40% of national shipbuilding exports.
04
Samsung Heavy Industries' Geoje yard near Busan produced 10 VLCCs with average deadweight of 320,000 tons each in 2023.
05
In 2022, Busan shipyards repaired 450 vessels, generating $2.1 billion in repair revenue.
06
Hanwha Ocean in Busan secured orders for 8 ammonia-ready tankers in 2023, valued at $1.2 billion.
07
Busan New Port Shipyard launched 5 eco-friendly bulk carriers with LNG dual-fuel engines in 2023.
08
The industry employed 85,000 workers in Busan's shipbuilding sector as of 2023, up 5% from 2022.
09
Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) in Busan built 12 FSRUs with total capacity of 1.9 million cbm in 2022.
10
Busan shipbuilding R&D investment reached 1.2 trillion KRW in 2023, focusing on green technologies.
11
In 2023, Busan yards produced 2.5 million tons of steel plates for ship construction.
12
Busan's shipbuilding export orders stood at 18.7 million CGT in 2022, 32% of global market share.
13
HJ Shipbuilding & Construction in Busan delivered 7 PCTCs with 8,000 car capacity each in 2023.
14
The sector's productivity per worker in Busan reached 450 million KRW in 2023.
15
Busan shipyards adopted digital twin technology for 60% of newbuild projects in 2023.
16
STX Offshore & Shipbuilding repaired 120 offshore structures in Busan in 2022.
17
Busan's shipbuilding industry contributed 8.5% to the city's GDP in 2023.
18
In 2023, 22 FPSOs were under construction in Busan yards, valued at $15 billion.
19
Busan New Shipyard launched Korea's first hydrogen-powered ferry in 2023.
20
Shipbuilding patents filed in Busan totaled 1,200 in 2022, 28% national total.
21
In 2023, Busan shipbuilding industry secured new orders for 20 eco-friendly vessels valued at $3.2 billion.
Interpretation

Shipbuilding Interpretation

Busan isn't just building ships; it's single-handedly forging the green, technologically dominant future of global maritime trade, one massive, innovative vessel at a time.

05 · Category

Tourism20 stats

01
Tourism revenue in Busan reached 15 trillion KRW in 2023, up 18% from 2022.
02
Haeundae Beach attracted 12 million visitors in summer 2023.
03
Busan International Film Festival 2023 drew 180,000 attendees over 10 days.
04
Jagalchi Fish Market sold 250,000 tons of seafood in 2023.
05
Gamcheon Culture Village welcomed 2.8 million tourists in 2023.
06
Busan cruise port hosted 45 international calls with 120,000 passengers in 2023.
07
Hotel occupancy rate in Busan averaged 78% in 2023 peak season.
08
Taejongdae Resort Park recorded 1.5 million entries in 2023.
09
Busan spa and hot spring facilities served 3.2 million visitors annually in 2023.
10
Foreign tourist arrivals to Busan hit 4.1 million in 2023.
11
Songdo Beach cable car rides totaled 900,000 in 2023.
12
Busan Museum entry tickets sold 1.2 million in 2023.
13
Night tourism revenue from illuminations and markets was 2.5 trillion KRW in 2023.
14
Medical tourism patients in Busan numbered 150,000 in 2023.
15
Busan Yacht Club hosted 20 international regattas attracting 5,000 sailors in 2023.
16
Cultural heritage sites in Busan saw 8 million visits in 2023.
17
Duty-free shopping sales at Busan Port hit 1.8 trillion KRW in 2023.
18
Busan Food Festival served 1.1 million meals to attendees in 2023.
19
Eco-tourism programs in Busan participated by 500,000 people in 2023.
20
Busan tourism apps downloaded 1.2 million times, boosting visits by 15% in 2023.
Interpretation

Tourism Interpretation

With 18% more revenue and over four million foreign tourists elbowing for space between Haeundae's sands, Jagalchi's fish stalls, and BIFF's red carpets, Busan in 2023 proved it's no longer Korea's best-kept secret but its most dynamic and crowded coastal powerhouse.
Reference

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David Sutherland. (2026, February 13). Busan Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/busan-industry-statistics
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David Sutherland. "Busan Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/busan-industry-statistics.
Chicago
David Sutherland. 2026. "Busan Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/busan-industry-statistics.

Sources & references

76 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level

busan.go.krenglish.hhi.co.krkoreajoongangdaily.joins.comsamsungshi.comkmst.or.krhanwhaocean.combusanport.comindex.go.krenglish.hdsme.commotie.go.krposco.comclarksons.comhjsb.co.krkostat.go.krstxosv.comenglish.busan.go.kroffshore-energy.bizkmnews.co.krkipo.go.kreng.busan.go.krworldshipping.orgkfpia.or.krbpah.or.krglobalps.comics-shipping.orgkorail.comporttechnology.orgport.netmolit.go.krbusanferry.comjoc.comsamsungsem.comhyundai.comskenergy.comkotra.or.krhi.co.krkfia.or.krkimst.or.krkomachine.comkpia.or.krkoita.or.krlcma.or.krkpbma.or.krkig.or.krbiff.krjagalchi.comgamcheon.go.krvisitkorea.or.krkto.visitkorea.or.krsongdocablecar.combusanmuseum.go.krmedicalkorea.or.krcha.go.krshilladfs.combusanfoodfestival.combusanbiocluster.comfsb.or.krsmartcity.go.krmof.or.krkocca.krdoosanenerbility.comkista.or.krbusanfez.go.krkida.or.krbblockchain.or.krkhfc.or.krkespa.or.krnst.re.krkira.or.krgreenfund.or.krmetaverse.or.krkisti.re.krmarineinsight.comlloydslist.comsmba.go.krvisitbusan.net