SEOUL, KOREA - Korea’s beer imports reached a record-high level in the first half of this year, exceeding the nation’s beer exports.
According to the Korea Customs Service on July 16, the nation’s beer imports totaled 53,618 tons in the January-June period of this year, up 29.2 percent from 41,495 tons a year ago. This is the highest half-year results since 2000, from which related statistics became available.
Considering that the nation’s beer imports stood merely at 3,444 tons in the first half of 2000, this year’s figure represented more than a 15-fold growth.
The nation’s beer exports stood at 53,451 tons in the first half of this year, posting a zero growth compared to a year ago.Accordingly, beer imports exceeded beer exports for the first time in history.
Even in value terms, the nation’s beer imports set a new record at $50.78 million, up 28.5 percent from $39.54 million a year before.