SEOUL, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Price for goods imported into South Korea rose for two straight months through March on expensive crude oil and the local currency's depreciation to the U.S. dollar, central bank data showed Friday.
The import price index gained 1.3 percent in March from a month earlier, after advancing 1.8 percent in the previous month, according to the Bank of Korea (BOK).
It came as Dubai crude, South Korea's benchmark, climbed 3.6 percent in the month. The won/dollar exchange rate added 0.7 percent last month, contributing to higher price for imported products.
Price for imported raw materials, such as crude oil, was up 1.2 percent in March from a month ago, with those for intermediate goods picking up 1.6 percent. Those for capital and consumer goods grew 0.6 percent and 0.7 percent each.
The export price index went up 0.5 percent in March from a month earlier, marking the fastest gain in eight months.
Price for exported coal and oil products advanced 4.4 percent on expensive crude oil, and chemical product price was up 1.2 percent.
DRAM memory chip price declined 5.2 percent in the month, keeping a downward trend for the eighth consecutive month.
