Exports of food, agro products hit all-time high in Q1

SEOUL, April 3 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's exports of agricultural and food products advanced 7.9 percent from a year earlier in the first quarter, reaching a record high amid the growing popularity of Korean culture, the agriculture ministry said Thursday.

Outbound shipments of agricultural and food items amounted to US$3.18 billion in the January-March period, up from $2.95 billion tallied a year earlier, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

It was the highest first-quarter figure on record, the ministry added.

By item, exports of instant noodles surged 27.3 percent during the period to $343.9 million. Sales of snack products increased 5.5 percent to $174.1 million, while beverage exports rose 4.5 percent to $156.8 million.

Sales of South Korean cigarettes climbed 14.5 percent on-year to $261 million, while sauce exports jumped 9.1 percent to $101 million, the data showed.

Exports of farm machinery, agricultural chemicals and other related materials also went up 2.3 percent on-year to $704.1 million during the cited period.

By destination, exports of K-food items to the United States jumped 21.7 percent to $487 million, while those to the European Union and Britain soared 34.1 percent to $222 million.

Exports to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations shot up 37.9 percent to $81 million.

"The government will make all-out efforts to help exporters enhance product competitiveness, expand into various markets and address business challenges so as to further promote exports of K-food and other agricultural products," the ministry said in a release.

graceoh@yna.co.kr
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