S Korean farm, food exports see record-high increase in Jan.
】SEOUL, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- South Korean farm and food exports have increased at a record high pace last month, mainly backed by the gradual global economic recovery, the government said Monday.
In a report released by the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, South Korea's exports of farm products jumped 31.8 percent from the previous year to reach 397.3 million U.S. dollars, the highest increase since 1986 when it advanced 32. 5 percent, as it also marked the third consecutive month of seeing more than a 20 percent growth in the country's farm exports.
January's total volume of outbound shipments of farm products also gained 29.3 percent from the same period of last year, to reach 212,600 tons, the ministry added.
According to the ministry, growth in overseas demand especially stemming from China with the Lunar New Year approaching has caused a major boost in total farm exports.
China, being one of the largest marketplaces for South Korean farm and food products, has brought in 57.9 million U.S. dollars worth of exports in January, or a 103.9 percent surge from 28.4 million U.S. dollars recorded last year in the cited period, the ministry said.
Farm and food exports to Russia and China's Hong Kong have also increased 89.1 percent and 49.0 percent, respectively, while the United States and the European Union have also saw a 21.6 percent and 50.4 percent rise as well, ministry officials added.
Source:Xinhua