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.