SEOUL (XINHUA) – South Korea’s export of agricultural and food products rose in single digits in the first half of this year due to higher demand from the United States (US) and Europe, government data showed yesterday.
Outbound shipment of locally-made food and farm goods as well as pet food grew 5.2 per cent from a year earlier to USD6.21 billion during the January-June period, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
The agri-food products export to the US advanced 17 per cent to USD736.8 million, but shipment to Japan declined seven per cent to USD671.3 million.
Shipment to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) expanded 3.3 per cent to USD935.7 million, and export to Europe surged 30.2 per cent to USD339.8 million.
By item, instant noodle shipment spiked 32.3 per cent to USD590.2 million in the six-month period, and shipment for processed rice food soared 41.4 per cent to USD136.9 million.
Ginseng export added 1.2 per cent to USD152.8 million, while those for confectionery and beverage mounted to USD354.1 million and USD325.7 million each.
