South Korea’s Import Price Index jumped 18.4% year-over-year in March 2026, a sharp acceleration from the 1.6% annual increase recorded in February 2026. The latest data, updated on 14 April 2026, underscores a rapid rise in the cost of imported goods compared with the same month a year earlier.
The figures are based on year-over-year comparisons, with the March reading measuring how much import prices changed from March of the previous year, while the February figure reflected the change relative to February a year earlier. The steep month-to-month shift in the annual growth rate of the index highlights mounting price pressures on imported inputs, which can have implications for domestic production costs and overall inflation dynamics.
This notable jump in March’s import prices will likely draw increased attention from market participants and policymakers monitoring external cost pressures and their potential impact on South Korea’s broader economic outlook.