Beer imports reach record high in South Korea

South Korea’s beer imports have hit a record high in the first half of the year in both volume and value and have overtaken exports for the first time.

According to Yonhap news agency, beer imports “surged” 28.5% to US$50.8 million between January and June and with the usual August peak still to come, it is thought that imports could well exceed $100m this year.

Most of the beer imports were from Japan which took 25% of the tonnage (13,818 tons worth of beer), followed by the Netherlands, Germany and China with 8,887 tons, 7,825 tons and 5,067 tons respectively.

South Korea’s beer imports have grown 15-fold since 2000 with mounting evidence that beer drinkers are widening their horizons.

South Korea’s beer exports by contrast remained steady compared to the same period last year at 53,451 tons.