South Korea’s import prices rose 24.8% year-on-year in May 2026, accelerating from a 20.2% increase in April. Price gains were led by raw materials, which climbed 38.9%, driven by a 42.4% increase in mining product prices. Intermediate goods prices rose 26.8%, reflecting sharp increases in coal and petroleum products (73.1%), basic metal products (32.8%), chemical products (26.1%), and computers, electronic and optical equipment (23.2%). Meanwhile, prices of capital goods increased 4.8%, while consumer goods prices rose 6.3%. source: The Bank of Korea

Import Prices YoY in South Korea increased to 24.80 percent in May from 20.50 percent in April of 2026. Import Prices YoY in South Korea averaged 6.79 percent from 1972 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 64.80 percent in February of 1980 and a record low of -29.90 percent in February of 1999. This page includes a chart with historical data for South Korea Import Prices YoY. South Korea Import Prices YoY - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on June of 2026.

Import Prices YoY in South Korea increased to 24.80 percent in May from 20.50 percent in April of 2026. Import Prices YoY in South Korea is expected to be 23.00 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the South Korea Import Prices YoY is projected to trend around 3.00 percent in 2027 and 2.00 percent in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-05-14 09:00 PM
Import Prices YoY
Apr 20.2% 20.4% 23.0%
2026-06-15 09:00 PM
Import Prices YoY
May 24.8% 20.5% 30.5%
2026-07-14 09:00 PM
Import Prices YoY
Jun 24.8% 23%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
CPI 119.92 119.37 points May 2026
Core Consumer Prices 117.97 117.38 points May 2026
Core Inflation Rate 2.50 2.20 percent May 2026
CPI Housing Utilities 118.53 118.24 points May 2026
CPI Transportation 127.54 125.62 points May 2026
Export Prices 188.58 188.02 points May 2026
Export Prices YoY 46.90 41.30 percent May 2026
Food Inflation 1.60 0.30 percent May 2026
GDP Deflator 128.80 117.00 points Mar 2026
Import Prices 168.05 168.49 points May 2026
Import Prices YoY 24.80 20.50 percent May 2026
Inflation Expectations 2.80 2.80 percent Jun 2026
Inflation Rate YoY 3.10 2.60 percent May 2026
Inflation Rate MoM 0.50 0.50 percent May 2026
PPI MoM 0.80 2.70 percent May 2026
Producer Prices 129.82 128.75 points May 2026
PPI YoY 8.50 7.20 percent May 2026


South Korea Import Prices YoY
In South Korea, Import Prices correspond to the rate of change in the prices of goods and services purchased by residents of that country from, and supplied by, foreign sellers. Import Prices are heavily affected by exchange rates.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
24.80 20.50 64.80 -29.90 1972 - 2026 percent Monthly
2020=100, NSA

News Stream
South Korea Import Prices Rise in May
South Korea’s import prices rose 24.8% year-on-year in May 2026, accelerating from a 20.2% increase in April. Price gains were led by raw materials, which climbed 38.9%, driven by a 42.4% increase in mining product prices. Intermediate goods prices rose 26.8%, reflecting sharp increases in coal and petroleum products (73.1%), basic metal products (32.8%), chemical products (26.1%), and computers, electronic and optical equipment (23.2%). Meanwhile, prices of capital goods increased 4.8%, while consumer goods prices rose 6.3%.
2026-06-15
South Korea Import Prices Rise in April
South Korea’s import prices rose 20.2% year-on-year in April 2026, easing slightly from a 20.4% increase in March. Price gains were led by mining products, which surged 36.5%, driven by higher prices for coal, crude petroleum and natural gas (38%), as well as metallic and non-metallic mineral products (30.7%). Manufactured goods prices rose 15.3%, supported by sharp increases in coal and petroleum products (67%) and basic metal products (26.3%). Meanwhile, prices for agricultural, forestry and marine products increased at a more moderate pace of 4.4%, mainly driven by livestock (13.3%) and forest products (6.2%).
2026-05-14
South Korea Import Price Growth Sharpest Since 2022
South Korea’s import prices rose sharply by 18.4% year-on-year in March 2026, accelerating from a 1.6% increase in February (previously estimated at 1.2%). This marks the fastest growth since October 2022. On a monthly basis, import prices surged 16.1%, the strongest gain since January 1998, reflecting broad-based cost pressures as the Iran war pushes up oil prices and weakens the won. Price increases were led by a jump in raw materials (40.0% vs. -3.5% in February), including crude and other mining products. Oil-linked products such as naphtha and jet fuel also rose sharply. Intermediate goods also increased (13.2% vs. 4.8%), as did consumer goods (3.3% vs. 2.5%), while capital goods were unchanged (1.5% vs. 1.5%).
2026-04-14