Kimchi imports hit record US$112 mln in 2008

SEOUL, Feb. 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korea imported a record US$112.7 million worth
of kimchi last year, fueled by demand from restaurants and catering services, a
state-run agriculture trade corporation said Monday.

The Korea Agro-Fisheries Trade Corp. said import volume of the traditional, spicy
fermented side dish rose 0.9 percent to 222,370 tons last year, with exports
reaching $85.3 million for a trade deficit of $27.4 million.
The imbalance marks the third consecutive year that the country imported more
kimchi then it sold abroad. In 2007, the deficit soared to $35.5 million from
$17.6 million in the previous year.
Up till 2005, South Korea posted a trade surplus in the dish served with almost
all meals, but it suffered a major setback when non-harmful parasite eggs were
found in some products. This discovery caused exports to Japan, which had been
its largest overseas market to nosedive.
According to the center and the Korea Rural Economic Institute (KREI), said
Chinese-made kimchi that accounted for most imports reached 13.5 percent of local
consumption estimated at 1.64 million tons last year.
The percentage is a slight decrease from 15.5 percent of the total tallied for
2007 although a gain from 10.7 percent reaching in 2006.
"Chinese-made kimchi has established itself in the country because local
restaurants and catering services are attracted by cheaper prices compared to
locally produced goods," a KREI researcher said.
Many kimchi plants located in China's Shandong province are owned by South Korean
businesses.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
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