Korea's milk formula exports to China rise after food scandal

SEOUL, Sept. 22 (Yonhap) -- Shipments of powdered milk from South Korea's two largest dairy companies to China increased substantially last week from previously recorded figures, industry officials said Monday, following an outbreak of a milk formula scandal last week.

Some 13,000 Chinese babies were reported to have fallen ill, with four reportedly
having died after drinking milk formula tainted with melamine, a substance banned
in food, in the latest food safety scandal to hit the world's most populous
country, according to foreign news reports.
Namyang Dairy Products Co., South Korea's second-largest seller of dairy
products, said that its weekly shipments of milk formula to China reached some
16,000 cans last week, more than tripling from its average weekly tally of 5,000.
Exports of Maeil Dairy Industries Co., Namyang's larger rival, also rose by 15
percent to some 4,000 cans-per-week following the news, according to the company.
Namyang cited an increasing inclination towards Korean-made products among
Chinese consumers, as they do not include any China-originated substances and are
produced under relatively strict safety standards.
The South Korean company also said it plans to raise its export goal to China by
increasing awareness of its safety standards through beefed-up local marketing.
odissy@yna.co.kr
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