S. Korea's agro-food exports hit record high in H1

SEOUL, July 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's exports of agricultural products and food reached an all-time high in the first half of the year on strong demand in China and Southeast Asia, government data showed Tuesday.

South Korea exported US$3.55 billion worth of agricultural products and food abroad from January to June, up 7.9 percent from a year earlier, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said.

Outbound shipments of fresh food jumped 27.5 percent on-year to $670 million thanks to upbeat sales of ginseng and fresh fruits and vegetables.

Sales of processed foods, such as instant noodles, beverages and powdered milk, climbed 4.6 percent to $2.94 billion over the period.

By region, sales to China gained a solid 13.4 percent to $492 million in the first half, rebounding from last year's double-digit decline affected by a diplomatic row between the two neighbors.

Exports to the Southeast Asian market jumped 11.2 percent to $667 million over the period on the back of the popularity of Korean fresh fruits, including pears, grapes and strawberries, the ministry said.

ejkim@yna.co.kr
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