FX.co ★ South Korea’s Export Prices Accelerate in January, Marking Stronger Inflationary Pulse

South Korea’s export price index rose 7.8% year-over-year in January 2026, accelerating from a 5.0% increase recorded in December 2025, according to data updated on 12 February 2026. The figures are based on a comparison of January’s export prices with those of the same month a year earlier, while the prior reading reflected December’s prices against December a year before.

The sharper annual rise in January suggests mounting price pressures in South Korea’s export sector, following an already solid gain at the end of 2025. The pickup from 5.0% to 7.8% indicates that exporters are either facing higher input costs, commanding stronger pricing power abroad, or a combination of both, potentially feeding into broader trade and inflation dynamics in the months ahead.