S. Korea's perfume imports increase last year despite economic slump

SEOUL, March 25 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's imports of perfume products increased
last year as demand remained high despite sluggish economic conditions, the
customs office said Thursday.

According to data provided by the Korea Customs Service, South Korean companies
imported a total of US$74.58 million worth of perfume products last year, up 4.5
percent from a year earlier. In terms of amount, perfume imports gained 6.4
percent from a year earlier to 1,559 tons.
Perfume imports have been on a steady increase since 2004, but the increase last
year was unexpected due to sluggish economic conditions at home and abroad.
Companies continued to bring in luxurious perfume products in pursuit of high
profits as consumer demand remained undented, the customs office explained.
French perfume products accounted for the largest share with $35.30 million worth
of perfume imported last year. Italian perfume came next with $22.04 million
followed by products from the United States and Germany with $6.13 million and
$5.52 million, respectively, the data showed.
South Korea, meanwhile, exported a total of $10.03 million worth of perfume
products last year, the data showed.
Exports bound for Japan totaled $6.27 million, accounting for 62.5 percent of the
total. Singapore was the second-largest export destination with $1.98 million
worth of products sold there, followed by the United Arab Emirates and the
Netherlands with $790,000 and $470,000, according to the data.
kokobj@yna.co.kr
(END)

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