South Korea’s import prices rose 15.6% year over year in August 2026, moderating from an 18.8% increase in July. The overall advance was driven primarily by raw materials, which surged 26.6%. Prices of intermediate goods climbed 16.6%, while capital goods and consumer goods saw more modest increases of 0.7% and 2.2%, respectively.
By economic sector, prices of mining products jumped 28.8%, reflecting higher costs for coal, crude petroleum and natural gas (up 29.4%), as well as metallic and non-metallic mineral products (up 27.1%). Prices for manufactured goods rose 11.3%, led by a 44.5% surge in coal and petroleum products and a 21.5% gain in basic metal products.
Meanwhile, prices for agricultural, forestry and marine products increased 6.7%. Within this category, marine product prices were up 11.7%, and agricultural product prices rose 10.9%.
