South Korea’s imports dropped 4.0% yoy in August 2025, reversing a 0.7% gain in the prior month and marking the first contraction since May, flash data showed. The decline was steeper than market estimates of a 0.1% drop, pressured by U.S. tariffs despite Seoul’s KRW 30.5 trillion supplementary budget. Beyond tariff effects, imports were weighed by subdued domestic demand amid high debt, weaker industrial activity tied to sluggish global electronics demand, and stable energy prices that lowered the import bill. Firms also appeared to scale back buying after front-loading shipments earlier in anticipation of trade frictions. Meanwhile, structural shifts in the petrochemicals sector, including plans to cut naphtha-cracking capacity, dampened feedstock demand. Still, Seoul’s late-July trade deal with Washington, committing USD 350 billion in U.S. investments and USD 100 billion in energy purchases, highlights the ongoing tension between cushioning tariff shocks and reshaping trade flows. source: Ministry of Trade, Industry & Energy (MOTIE)

Imports YoY in South Korea decreased to -4 percent in August from 0.70 percent in July of 2025. Imports YoY in South Korea averaged 14.75 percent from 1967 until 2025, reaching an all time high of 115.60 percent in February of 1974 and a record low of -43.90 percent in July of 1998. This page includes a chart with historical data for South Korea Imports YoY. South Korea Imports YoY - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on September of 2025.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2025-08-01 12:00 AM
Imports YoY
Jul 0.7% 3.3% 2% 3.2%
2025-09-01 12:00 AM
Imports YoY
Aug -4% 0.7% -0.1% -0.2%
2025-10-01 12:00 AM
Imports YoY
Sep -4%

South Korea Imports YoY
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
-4.00 0.70 115.60 -43.90 1967 - 2025 percent Monthly

News Stream
South Korea Imports Fall More than Expected
South Korea’s imports dropped 4.0% yoy in August 2025, reversing a 0.7% gain in the prior month and marking the first contraction since May, flash data showed. The decline was steeper than market estimates of a 0.1% drop, pressured by U.S. tariffs despite Seoul’s KRW 30.5 trillion supplementary budget. Beyond tariff effects, imports were weighed by subdued domestic demand amid high debt, weaker industrial activity tied to sluggish global electronics demand, and stable energy prices that lowered the import bill. Firms also appeared to scale back buying after front-loading shipments earlier in anticipation of trade frictions. Meanwhile, structural shifts in the petrochemicals sector, including plans to cut naphtha-cracking capacity, dampened feedstock demand. Still, Seoul’s late-July trade deal with Washington, committing USD 350 billion in U.S. investments and USD 100 billion in energy purchases, highlights the ongoing tension between cushioning tariff shocks and reshaping trade flows.
2025-09-01
South Korea Imports Rise Less than Expected
South Korea’s imports rose 0.7% year-on-year to USD 54.21 billion in July 2025, easing from a 3.3% gain in the previous month and falling short of market expectations for a 2% increase, flash data showed. The latest figure came ahead of a key U.S. tariff deal and despite Seoul’s KRW 30.5 trillion supplementary budget aimed at supporting an economy facing weak consumption and trade-related pressures. Just days before the August 1 deadline set by Washington, South Korea struck a trade agreement with the U.S., lowering the threatened reciprocal tariff to 15%. In return, the U.S. will reduce tariffs on South Korean automobiles and parts from 25% to 15%. Seoul also pledged to boost imports of U.S. LNG and other energy products and to help revitalize the U.S. shipbuilding industry. The move aligns with South Korea’s energy strategy, as the country relies on imports for over 90% of its energy needs. The deal is seen as helping secure energy supplies while reducing trade friction.
2025-08-01
South Korea Imports Grow Less than Estimated
South Korea’s imports rose 3.3% year-on-year to USD 50.72 billion in June 2025, rebounding from a 5.3% decline in May but falling short of market expectations for a 6.9% increase, preliminary data showed. It marked the first rise in imports since March, supported by a 90-day trade truce and a KRW 30.5 trillion supplementary budget from Seoul aimed at propping up an economy struggling with weak consumption and tariff-related trade pressures. South Korea is confronting targeted tariffs on its auto and steel exports to the U.S., while duties on a broad range of other goods are slated to jump from 10% to 25% as of July 9—unless a deal is struck. Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo held talks with U.S. officials recently, marking the first active engagement in months following a period of political instability.
2025-07-01


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