S. Korea imported 10.8 bln cups worth of coffee in 2008: report

SEOUL, Aug. 30 (Yonhap) -- South Korea imported enough coffee to make 10.8
billion cups in 2008, a report by the country's customs service said Sunday.
The total imported translates into 288 cups of coffee being consumed by an
average adult for the cited year, the Korea Customs Service (KCS) said.
"In 2008, imports grew to US$331.3 million for a gain of 43.4 percent on-year,
although in the first half of this year, the total was down 2.9 percent on-year
to $157.6 million," the KCS said.
It said the drop is mainly due to lower prices of coffee internationally, even
though imports in terms of volume increased slightly and topped 56,117 tons.
Imports of coffee, which has become the country's favorite beverage, has grown
steadily in the past few years. In 2007, the total brought into the country was
90,889 tons, while this rose to 108,413 tons last year.
The report, meanwhile, said that of the total imported in 2008, the country
bought a little over $252 million worth of green beans, $37 million worth of
roasted beans and $42 million worth of processed coffee products.
South Korea imported 48 percent of its green coffee beans from Vietnam, with most
of its roasted coffee coming from the United States.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
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