Prices of imported agricultural, livestock and fishery products grew nearly 10 percent on-year in January, customs data showed Thursday, indicating that expensive farm products are exerting upward pressure on inflation.

The import price index for such products stood at 129.8 in January, up 9.5 percent from the same month a year earlier, according to the data offered by the Korea Customs Service.

Imported prices of chicken meat surged 24.9 percent over the cited period, while prices of crabs, pollack, hairtails and anchovies rose 70 percent, 24.3 percent, 15.1 percent and 19.5 percent, respectively.

Pork and beef imports also saw their prices increase 16 percent and 4.6 percent on-year each in January, the data showed.

Of imported produce, ginger and garlic prices rose 54.5 percent and 26.3 percent, while those of onions and pumpkins fell 15.7 percent and 22.4 percent.

Farm product prices have been monitored closely by the government, which is struggling to tackle inflation partly driven up by high food prices. Last year, the nation’s consumer prices jumped 4 percent from a year earlier, hitting the upper ceiling of the central bank’s 2-4 percent target band. 

(Yonhap News)