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Data from FMP. Forecasts by Sigmanomics Forecast Engine.
South KoreaSouth Korea Imports YoY fell to 22.5% in August 2026
FMPMonthlyReleased September 2026
South Korea Imports YoY fell to 22.5% in August 2026, released September 2026, down 4.0% from July's 26.5% reading. The reading missed the 24.7% consensus by 2.2%. The print is running well above the 12-month average of 10.23%. The reading is in the 96th percentile of the trailing 24-month range.
Latest Release
22.5
Actual
24.7
Consensus
26.5
Previous
Median Absolute Error
±0.51 percentage points
across last 12 releases
Last Call
Sep 2026
Predicted: 24.65
Actual: 22.5
Error: +2.15
Sigmacast Σ-direction model: consensus + ½ × mean(surprise, trailing 90d).
CORRELATED SYMBOLS— markets that historically move with this indicator
| Symbol | Direction | Correlation | Asset Class | Co-movement | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KOSPI | ▲ Direct | +0.60 | INDEX | Moves with | → View |
| Nikkei 225 | ▲ Direct | +0.48 | INDEX | Moves with | → View |
| XAU/USD | ▲ Direct | +0.47 | COMMODITIES | Moves with | → View |
| USD/KRW | ▼ Inverse | −0.40 | FOREX | Moves against | → View |
| Hang Seng | ▲ Direct | +0.32 | INDEX | Moves with | → View |
Correlation based on 12-month rolling window. Click any symbol to view its Sigmanomics forecast page.
THE RELEASE
Imports YoY (South Korea) was reported at 22.5% in September 2026. This missed the market consensus of 24.7% by 2.2%. The reading fell from the previous value of 26.5%. Trailing 12-month context per ETL data through September 2026. Over the past 12 months, the indicator has averaged 8.11%, ranging from -4.1% to 26.5% across 17 releases.
WHY IT MATTERS
The trailing three releases averaged 23.27%, up from the prior three at 9.4%. Volatility over the past year (σ 8.4%) is higher than the prior year (σ 3.26%). In September readings over the past 3 years, Imports YoY has averaged 8.13%.
THE MODEL'S TAKE
Historically, this indicator is positively correlated with KOSPI (Bullish KOSPI). A secondary relationship exists with Nikkei 225, positively correlated (Bullish Nikkei 225). Over the last 12 releases, the Sigmacast model's median absolute error is 0.51%.
WHAT TO WATCH NEXT
The next release is scheduled for October 1, 2026. Same-country events in the next 14 days include Consumer Confidence (Sep 22) and Business Confidence (Sep 28).
Auto-generated from current model state · Refreshes on each release · Last update September 2026.
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Imports YoY - KR
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About Imports YoY — South Korea
DEFINITION
Imports YoY is a financial indicator that measures the year-over-year change in the total value of goods and services imported into a country. It provides valuable insights into a country's economic health and its trade relationships with other nations. A positive Imports YoY indicates an increase in imports, which can stimulate economic growth and consumer demand. On the other hand, a negative Imports YoY may suggest a decline in economic activity and potential trade imbalances. This indicator is closely monitored by investors, policymakers, and businesses to make informed decisions and assess the overall health of a country's economy.
WHY THIS INDICATOR MATTERS
Trade-balance and tariff data inform exchange-rate fundamentals and feed directly into GDP via the net-exports channel. The release is more useful as part of a longer-run signal than as a single-print catalyst. Released monthly.
WHAT CHANGED THIS MONTH
Latest reading (Aug 2026): actual 22.5 %, consensus 24.7 %. Prior reading (Jul 2026): 26.5 %. Before that (May 2026): 20.8 %.
WHAT'S NEXT
Sigmacast's 1-month forecast points to a higher reading versus the latest print, with the 3-month outlook diverging from that direction. The 1-month and 3-month horizons disagree, suggesting a mixed signal. Trend-driven dynamics are the primary tailwind in the current projection. This indicator correlates most strongly with KOSPI (Bullish KOSPI, r=0.60) — a useful reference for index-focused traders.
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Economic Calendar - KR Events
| Monday, September 14, 2026 | Actual | Previous | Consensus | Sigmanomics Rolling-Surprise Forecast | Impact | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21:00 | KR | Import Prices YoY | 15.6 | 18.8 | 23 | 19.30 | Low |
| 21:00 | KR | Export Prices YoY | 42.4 | 48.9 | 52 | 47.20 | Low |