South Korea Import Price Growth Eases

2026-09-14 21:27 By Isabela Couto 1 min. read

South Korea’s import prices rose 15.6% year over year in August 2026, easing from an 18.8% increase in July.

Price gains were led by raw materials, which rose 26.6%, while intermediate goods prices increased 16.6%.

Capital goods prices rose 0.7%, and consumer goods prices increased 2.2%.

By economic sector, mining product prices climbed 28.8%, driven by higher prices for coal, crude petroleum and natural gas (29.4%), as well as metallic and non-metallic mineral products (27.1%).

Prices for manufactured goods rose 11.3%, led by a 44.5% increase in coal and petroleum products and a 21.5% rise in basic metal products.

Meanwhile, prices for agricultural, forestry and marine products increased 6.7%, with marine products rising 11.7% and agricultural products up 10.9%.



News Stream
South Korea Import Price Growth Eases
South Korea’s import prices rose 15.6% year over year in August 2026, easing from an 18.8% increase in July. Price gains were led by raw materials, which rose 26.6%, while intermediate goods prices increased 16.6%. Capital goods prices rose 0.7%, and consumer goods prices increased 2.2%. By economic sector, mining product prices climbed 28.8%, driven by higher prices for coal, crude petroleum and natural gas (29.4%), as well as metallic and non-metallic mineral products (27.1%). Prices for manufactured goods rose 11.3%, led by a 44.5% increase in coal and petroleum products and a 21.5% rise in basic metal products. Meanwhile, prices for agricultural, forestry and marine products increased 6.7%, with marine products rising 11.7% and agricultural products up 10.9%.
2026-09-14
South Korea Import Price Growth Eases in July
South Korea’s import prices rose 18.7% year-on-year in July 2026, easing from an upwardly revised 20.9% increase in June. Price gains were led by mining products, which climbed 24.9%, driven by higher costs for coal, crude petroleum and natural gas (23.8%), as well as metallic and non-metallic mineral products (32.3%). Prices for manufactured goods rose 16.7%, with coal and petroleum products up 35.5% and basic metal products increasing 28.0%. Meanwhile, prices for agricultural, forestry and marine products increased 15.2%, with marine foods rising 20.6% and agricultural foods up 18.3%.
2026-08-13
South Korea Import Price Growth Eases in June
South Korea's import prices rose 20.6% year-on-year in June 2026, easing from an upwardly revised 25.4% increase in May. Price gains were led by mining products, which climbed 25.2%, driven by higher costs for coal, crude petroleum and natural gas (23.3%), as well as metallic and non-metallic mineral products (36.8%). Prices for manufactured goods also increased, with coal and petroleum products up 38.9% and basic metal products rising 34.3%. Meanwhile, prices for agricultural, forestry, and marine products increased 15.2%. By end use, intermediate goods recorded the largest increase, rising 25.4%, followed by raw materials (24.1%) and capital goods (7.7%). On a monthly basis, the Import Price Index fell 4.4%.
2026-07-14