Korean export volumes rise 43.9 percent in October
Korean export volumes increased 43.9 percent year-on-year in October 2026, according to preliminary Bank of Korea data. Export values rose 107.6 percent, while won-based import prices fell 1.8 percent from September.
Export growth outpaces imports
The Bank of Korea (BOK) reported that October export prices rose 0.7 percent month-on-month and 36.7 percent year-on-year in won terms.
Import prices fell 1.8 percent from September but increased 13.5 percent annually.
The export price index reached 184.15 and the import price index 156.86, with 2020 equal to 100. On the dollar-based trade measures, import volumes increased 14.9 percent year-on-year and import values rose 36.6 percent, against export gains of 43.9 and 107.6 percent respectively.
Net barter terms of trade improved 21.3 percent annually but fell 2.0 percent month-on-month to 117.12. Income terms of trade rose 74.6 percent annually to 198.45, measuring the import purchasing power of total exports.
Electronics record larger annual gains
Computer, electronic and optical equipment export prices rose 3.7 percent monthly and 95.9 percent annually; export volumes increased 51.2 percent annually and values 214.8 percent.
Contract-currency export prices rose 2.4 percent monthly, while import prices fell 0.2 percent, compared with won-based changes of 0.7 and -1.8 percent.
October figures remain preliminary.
The BOK will finalize 2026 trade indexes in March 2027 after customs data confirmation; the next scheduled release is December 15, 2026.
Annual gains, monthly retreat
Annual export growth does not describe the monthly direction: both export volume and value indexes fell from September.
Net barter terms of trade also declined despite their annual improvement.
Currency bases matter because won and contract-currency price changes differ.