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 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.