The Bank of Korea published preliminary March 2026 Export/Import Price Indexes and Trade Indexes, showing sharp month-on-month increases in both export and import prices in KRW terms and a stronger year-on-year rise in export values. The Export Price Index rose 16.3% month on month and 28.7% year on year, while the Import Price Index increased 16.1% month on month and 18.4% year on year. Trade indexes (USD basis) showed export volume up 23.0% year on year and export value up 51.7%, compared with import volume up 12.3% and import value up 12.9%. Export price increases were concentrated in manufacturing, including coal products and petroleum products (up 88.7% month on month) and computers, electronic and optical equipment (up 12.7%), while import price gains were driven by mining products (up 44.2%), led by coal, crude petroleum and natural gas (up 53.5%); by use, raw materials rose 40.2% month on month and intermediate goods 8.8%. The net barter terms of trade index increased 22.8% year on year (9.0% month on month), and the income terms of trade index rose 50.9% year on year. The March indexes are preliminary and subject to revision with the next release; annual figures are scheduled to be finalized in the press release issued in March of the following year after customs data are confirmed.
Bank of Korea 2026-04-15
Bank of Korea releases preliminary March 2026 trade and price indexes with export prices up 16.3% month on month
The Bank of Korea published preliminary March 2026 Export/Import Price and Trade Indexes, reporting sharp month-on-month increases in export and import prices in KRW terms and a strong year-on-year rise in export values. The Export Price Index rose 16.3% month on month and 28.7% year on year, and the Import Price Index increased 16.1% and 18.4% respectively, with price gains concentrated in manufacturing and mining products and the net barter and income terms of trade indexes up 22.8% and 50.9% year on year.