Prices of imported farm products rose more than 5 percent on-month in May mainly due to a rise in international grain and vegetable costs, government data showed Monday.

According to the data by the Korea Customs Service, the price index for imported farm produce stood at 100.4 last month, a gain of 5.6 percent from 95.1 tallied the month before but down 6.1 percent from a year earlier. April's number was the lowest reading since 89.9 reached in December 2007.

The service said the gain was helped by higher prices for key staples, such as grain, beans and coffee. Prices of vegetables, especially cabbages, rose on-month along with garlic and ginger.

Prices of bananas, oranges, pineapples and other fruits also rose vis-a-vis April.

The KCS said that the index for fishery products stood at 94.9, down 3.7 percent from April, and 1.8 percent from 96.6 reached the year before.

The index for imported meat prices fell 3.1 percent on-month to 141.4 from 146 in April but rose 5.5 percent from May 2014.

For all farm, meat and fisheries products, the import price index stood at 107.6, up 1.6 percent from the 105.9 reached the month before. The number, however, represents a 1.7 percent dip from the 109.5 reached the year before, according to the KCS data. (Yonhap)