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%). source: The Bank of Korea

Import Prices YoY in South Korea increased to 18.40 percent in March from 1.60 percent in February of 2026. Import Prices YoY in South Korea averaged 6.74 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 May of 2026.

Import Prices YoY in South Korea increased to 18.40 percent in March from 1.60 percent in February of 2026. Import Prices YoY in South Korea is expected to be 3.00 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, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-03-16 09:00 PM
Import Prices YoY
Feb 1.2% -0.9% 0.5%
2026-04-14 09:00 PM
Import Prices YoY
Mar 18.4% 1.6% 4.1%
2026-05-14 09:00 PM
Import Prices YoY
Apr 18.4%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
CPI 119.37 118.80 points Apr 2026
Core Consumer Prices 117.38 117.00 points Apr 2026
Core Inflation Rate 2.20 2.30 percent Apr 2026
CPI Housing Utilities 118.24 118.05 points Apr 2026
CPI Transportation 125.62 121.44 points Apr 2026
Export Prices 173.86 149.50 points Mar 2026
Export Prices YoY 28.70 11.10 percent Mar 2026
Food Inflation 0.30 0.50 percent Apr 2026
GDP Deflator 117.20 115.50 points Dec 2025
Import Prices 169.38 145.88 points Mar 2026
Import Prices YoY 18.40 1.60 percent Mar 2026
Inflation Expectations 2.90 2.70 percent Apr 2026
Inflation Rate YoY 2.60 2.20 percent Apr 2026
Inflation Rate MoM 0.50 0.30 percent Apr 2026
PPI MoM 1.60 0.60 percent Mar 2026
Producer Prices 125.24 123.28 points Mar 2026
PPI YoY 4.10 2.50 percent Mar 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
18.40 1.60 64.80 -29.90 1972 - 2026 percent Monthly
2020=100, NSA

News Stream
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
South Korea Import Prices Rebound
South Korea’s import prices rose 1.2% year-on-year in February 2026, reversing a 0.9% fall in January. Price changes varied across key categories, with intermediate goods up (4.2% vs. 3.3% in January), consumer goods rising (2.5% vs. 2.5% in January), and capital goods climbing (1.6% vs. 1.9% in January), while raw material prices continued to fall, declining (3.8% vs. -9.5%). On a monthly basis, import prices rose 1.1% in February, accelerating from a 0.7% gain in the prior month.
2026-03-16
South Korea Import Prices Drop in January
South Korea’s import prices fell 1.2% year-on-year in January 2026, reversing a 0.3% rise in December and ending the recent four-month run of gains. Price changes were softer across key categories, with intermediate goods up (2.7% vs. 3.7% in December), consumer goods rising (2.5% vs. 4.1%), and capital goods climbing (2.1% vs. 3.1%), while raw material prices continued to fall, declining (9.7% vs. -6.8%). On a monthly basis, import prices rose 0.4% in January, easing from a 0.9% gain in the prior month.
2026-02-12