South Korea’s imports rose 13.2% year-over-year in March 2026, marking a strong acceleration from February’s 7.5% annual increase, according to data updated on 1 April 2026. The figures are calculated on a year-over-year basis, comparing each month’s performance with the same month a year earlier.
The pickup in March suggests a strengthening of external demand or domestic input needs, with the pace of import growth nearly doubling from the previous month. February’s reading reflected a 7.5% increase compared to February a year earlier, while March’s 13.2% gain measures imports against March of the prior year.
The sustained upward trajectory in imports may have implications for South Korea’s trade balance and could signal firmer industrial activity if driven by higher demand for intermediate and capital goods. However, detailed breakdowns by product category were not provided in the latest update.
