South Korea’s Import Price Index rose 17.6% year-over-year in September 2026, up from a 15.6% increase in August, according to data updated on 15 October 2026. The figures highlight a further acceleration in import cost growth, as the index compares prices in each month to the same month a year earlier.
The pickup from August’s 15.6% to September’s 17.6% suggests intensifying cost pressures on imported goods, which can feed into production costs for Korean manufacturers and, ultimately, consumer prices. The data indicate that the upward trend in import prices has strengthened rather than stabilized as the third quarter draws to a close.
