Argentina No. 1 exporter of skate to S. Korea

SEOUL, March 24 (Yonhap) -- Argentina became the top exporter of frozen skate to South Korea last year, overtaking Chile as the largest provider of the popular fish here, a government report said Wednesday.

According to the report by the Korea Customs Office, 33.3 percent or US$8.06
million worth of frozen skate imports into South Korea came from Argentina last
year, followed by Chile with 23.5 percent and the United States with 21.7
percent. In terms of amount, shipments of skate from Argentina and Chile reached
3,143 tons and 1,877 tons, respectively.
The figures are in stark contrast to a decade ago, when Chile ranked as the top
stake exporting country to South Korea, sending $3.59 million worth of exports to
the country, nearly three times the amount from Argentina.
A drop in the fish catch off the Chilean coast, however, led to a decrease in
exports from Chile in 2006, with the downward trend continuing to widen the gap.
Known as "hongeo" in Korean, skate is one of the most popular types of fish in
the country. Often served fermented, it is known for its pungent aroma and strong
flavor.
graceoh@yna.co.kr
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