Beer imports hit record high in 1st half

The amount of imported beer rose to a record high of 53,618 tons in the first six months of this year, up 29.2 percent from 41,495 tons tallied during the same period last year, according to government data Wednesday.

Japanese beer accounted for 25.8 percent or 13,818 tons of the total beer imports, up 19.6 percent from a year earlier, said the data released by the Korea Customs Service.

The comparable figure stood at 16.6 percent or 8,887 tons for Dutch beer, up 38 percent from a year earlier; and 14.6 percent or 7,825 tons for German beer, up 60.9 percent.

Chinese beer moved up one notch to fourth place with 5,067 tons or 9.4 percent.

Imports of U.S. beer contracted to 4,214 tons or 7.8 percent of the total.

In terms of value, beer imports soared 28.5 percent on-year to a record US$50.78 million during the January-June period.

Beer exports, meanwhile, reached 53,451 tons in the January-June period, a level on a par with those recorded in the same period last year, the data said.

Park Sae-jin swatchsjp@ajunews.com