Sales of tuna, tobacco, dried laver and paprika were found to have led the country’s agricultural and fisheries exports this year, according to government figures.

The Ministry of Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said Thursday that between January and November this year, tuna was the most exported product, with overseas shipments soaring more than 60 percent in November, compared to January. The figure was expected to surpass $600 million by the end of this year.

“It appears that a significantly increased amount of canned tuna has been shipped to other Asian neighbors, such as Thailand and China,” said one ministry official.

Last year, tobacco topped the export list. About $540 million worth was shipped out to reflect a 16.8 percent increase since January. The product was exported to an assortment of Asian nations.

In total, Korea shipped out a total of $7.29 billion worth of agricultural and fisheries products, which reflected a 5.1 percent increase from the same period last year.

Dried laver also rose in popularity and volume, mainly on the back of overseas retailers, such as those in the United States and Thailand, that have begun to import the item.

Between January and November, the export volume reached $210 million, a significant increase from two years earlier when the volume was slightly over $100 million.

“Dried laver has become vastly popular in many regions, and not just in Asia,” ministry officials said.

(jemmie@heraldcorp.com)



Japanese and Chinese tourists also can be seen in long queues outside supermarkets and traditional Korean food shops, waiting to buy laver that has been dried and salted.

A dozen agricultural and fisheries products, including tuna, tobacco, coffee, sugar, laver and instant noodles, have joined the club of items enjoying an annual export volume of $100 million or more, the government said.

By Kim Ji-hyun (jemmie@heraldcorp.com)