FX.co ★ South Korea Import Prices Rise in May

South Korea’s import prices rose 24.8% year-on-year in May 2026, quickening from a 20.2% increase in April. The overall rise was driven mainly by raw materials, which surged 38.9%, led by a 42.4% jump in mining product prices. Prices of intermediate goods climbed 26.8%, reflecting steep gains in coal and petroleum products (73.1%), basic metal products (32.8%), chemical products (26.1%), and computers, electronic and optical equipment (23.2%). In addition, prices of capital goods increased 4.8%, while consumer goods prices advanced 6.3%.