South Korea’s import growth strengthened in May 2026, with inbound shipments rising 20.8% year-over-year, up from a 16.7% gain in April 2026. The data, updated on 1 June 2026, highlight an acceleration in external demand and domestic input needs compared with the same month a year earlier.
Both April and May figures are based on year-over-year comparisons, measuring the change in imports relative to the corresponding month of the previous year. The pick-up from April’s 16.7% to May’s 20.8% suggests that import demand continued to expand as the second quarter progressed, potentially reflecting stronger industrial activity, consumer demand, or higher prices for imported goods.
