April 26, 2024

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Korea’s exports of agricultural and other food products rose 5.9 percent in January from a year earlier on increased demand from China and Japan, government data showed on Feb. 18.

Outbound shipments of food products, including kimchi, ginseng and strawberries, reached US$576 million last month -- the highest level for any January since 1999, when such data began to be compiled, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

By country, Korean shipments to Japan jumped 14.7 percent on-year to US$125.9 million in January due mainly to increased demand for kimchi, a traditional Korean side dish normally made of fermented cabbage, salt and hot peppers.

Korea’s shipments to China rose a sharp 16 percent on-year to US$79.7 million, mainly on increased demand for ginseng, according to the ministry.

By Ram Garikipati and newswires (ram@heraldcorp.com)