South Korea’s import prices rose 17.6% year-on-year in September 2026, accelerating from a 15.6% increase in August. The overall gain was driven primarily by raw materials, which jumped 39.3%, while prices of intermediate goods climbed 14.3%. In contrast, prices of capital goods declined 1.5%, and consumer goods prices slipped 0.4%.
By sector, mining product prices surged 43.6%. Manufactured goods prices were up 9%, largely reflecting a 44.4% increase in coal and petroleum products. Prices of agricultural, forestry, and marine products rose 2.7%.
The Import Price Index increased 1.7% on a month-on-month basis. The Import Volume Index was 11.1% higher than a year earlier, and the Net Barter Terms of Trade Index rose 25.4% year-on-year.
