S. Korea's tobacco imports jump 396-fold over past decade

SEOUL, Aug. 11 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's cigarette imports increased sharply over
the past decade as demand for foreign brand products increased steadily,
government data showed Tuesday.
According to the data provided by the Korea Customs Service, South Korea imported
11,478 tons of manufactured tobacco products last year compared with a mere 29
tons in 1998. This marked a 396-fold growth over the past decade.
In terms of value, the amount translated into US$77.55 million, up from $220,000
a decade ago, the data showed.
Since 2000, Cigarette imports have been growing fast on increasing demand for
foreign brands. South Korea brought in a total of 1,410 tons of foreign tobacco
products in 2002 and it surged to 6,857 tons in the following year, the data
showed. The amount had stayed in the range between 6,000 tons and 7,000 tons
until 2007.
During the first half of this year, South Korea's cigarette imports amounted to
5,733 tons, up 6.3 percent from the same period a year earlier. In terms of
value, they are worth US$41 million, which is also 16.5 percent higher from a
year earlier, the data showed.
By origin of country, cigarettes produced in the Philippines amounted to 4,448
tons, making up 77.6 percent of the total during the first half of this year, the
data showed. Malaysia ranked second with an 8.1 percent share, followed by France
and Japan with 6.7 percent and 6.6 percent, respectively.
Most of them carry brands of high-profile multinational tobacco companies based
in the United States and Europe.
South Korea's cigarette exports, meanwhile, amounted to 157 tons during the first
half of this year. Of the total, 72.6 percent went to Iran, followed by China and
Singapore with 41 tons and 1 ton having been shipped to the two markets
respectively, the data showed.
kokobj@yna.co.kr
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