The share of South Korean products in the Chinese import market has dropped below ten percent this year in connection with a dispute over missile defense and Chinese policy to foster its domestic industry. 

According to data by the Korea Center for International Finance on Tuesday, South Korean products accounted for nine-point-four percent of Chinese imports during the first eight months of the year. 

The figure had steadily increased from nine-point-three percent in 2011 to reach ten-point-four percent in 2015. Last year, South Korean imports took up ten percent of the Chinese market. However, it is unlikely to recover to that level this year.

Meanwhile, South Korea shipped 25-point-one percent of its exports to China last year, but the share fell to 23-point-five percent in the January to August period.