Consumers are resorting to packaged kimchi after record summer heat and drought have sent prices of napa cabbage, the side dish's key ingredient, up by more than 230 percent, retailers said Wednesday.

At E-Mart, sales of packaged kimchi rose 67 percent so far this month compared to the same period last year, totaling 4 billion won ($3.58 million), company officials said. Such a rise is common during the summer vacation months of July and August, when travelers buy ready-made kimchi for convenience. However, this year, the demand increase has been bigger after the usual peak season, officials said.

The wholesale price of napa cabbages averaged 6,128 won per 10 kilograms before the Chuseok (harvest moon) holiday last year. This year, they were priced at 20,462 won, a jump of 234 percent, affected heavily by the poor harvest due to the dry and scorching summer climate. Consumers are picking up packaged products, which have steadier prices because they were made with cabbages before the prices spiraled up, retailers said.

Officials at NS Mall, a home shopping channel specialized in selling agricultural and fisheries products, said kimchi has run out of stock early in the broadcast for the two most recent shows.

The amount of handled orders for kimchi rose 60 percent in August compared to the two prior months, they said.

Retailers estimate that kimchi purchases through online malls and catalogues increased 89.5 percent in August and 178 percent in early September.

"Many of the consumers are thinking it's more cost effective to buy packaged kimchi than making it at home because of the price jump," Cho Hyun-hwak, a merchandiser at NS Mall, said. "Kimchi sales are likely to increase more." (Yonhap)