S. Korean alcoholic beverage exports up 23 pct in 2008

SEOUL, May 18 (Yonhap) -- South Korean alcoholic beverage exports shot up 23
percent on-year in 2008 thanks to a solid rise in demand from Japan and Hong
Kong, a government report said Monday.

The National Tax Service (NTS) said overseas sales of locally made beer and
traditional drinks such as soju and makgeolli reached 227,705 kiloliters from
185,238 kiloliters tallied for the previous year. Locally made spirits and
grain-based beverages were sold in 65 countries worldwide.
Exports to Japan topped 131,000 kiloliters, followed by 45,000 kiloliters shipped
to Hong Kong. Sales to Mongolia and China exceeded 10,000 kiloliters each, while
those to the United States moved up 4.4 percent annually to 4,400 kiloliters.
The tax office under the Ministry of Strategy and Finance said the popularity of
Korean TV dramas, movies and songs abroad helped fuel overseas demand, along with
the weak Korean won and better preservation techniques that ease shipment costs.
Total exports of soju, a transparent drink made mostly from potatoes, wheat,
barley, sweet potatoes and rice, reached 88,800 kiloliters for an annual gain of
1.34 percent. In terms of value, overseas sales exceeded US$100 million, with
shipments being made to 58 countries.
The NTS said exports of makgeolli -- a milky, unrefined rice-based beverage --
surged 5,457 kiloliters for a 26.6 percent gain from 4,312 kiloliters reached in
2007. The drink has gained favor in Japan, which consumes 90 percent of all
exports.
The latest findings, in addition, said exports of beer topped 74,400 kiloliters
for a 23.3 percent gain from the year before, with Hong Kong accounting for 60.5
percent of overseas sales.
Korean-made beer controlled 70 percent of Mongolia's market, with shipments
reaching Middle Eastern countries like Iraq.
Meanwhile, the tax service said domestic consumption of alcoholic beverages edged
up 3.2 percent annually last year to 3.39 million kiloliters, with consumption of
soju and beer gaining 3-4 percent.
It added that the economic slump and unfavorable exchange rates caused wine and
whiskey imports to fall off sharply.
Whiskey consumption hit a five year low, with wine imports falling 12.5 percent
on-year.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
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