Laver Accounts for 40%, Coffee Preparations Jump 2.7-Fold... Jeonnam-Gwangju Food Exports Rise

$841.92 million in exports through September, up 2.7% year on year
Laver exports total $349.12 million, accounting for 40.4% of nationwide exports
Alcoholic beverage exports rise 45.9%; other beverage exports up 33%

Agricultural, fisheries and food exports from Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City totaled $841.92 million in January-September this year, up 2.7% from the same period last year.

According to Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City on October 25, fisheries products accounted for $447.94 million, or 53.2% of total exports. Agricultural products totaled $318.49 million (37.8%), followed by livestock products at $68.66 million (8.2%) and forestry products at $6.66 million (0.8%). Compared with the same period last year, exports of fisheries products rose 2.5%, agricultural products 5.9%, and livestock products 11.3%.

A dried seaweed processing facility. Provided by Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City.

Processed foods recorded particularly strong export growth. Alcoholic beverages totaled $58.46 million, up 45.9% from the same period last year, while other beverages reached $31.15 million, up 33.0%. Coffee preparations rose 169.9% to $22.18 million. Rice cakes ($7.03 million) and fermented sauces ($6.12 million) also increased 31.9% and 17.5%, respectively.

Laver was Jeonnam-Gwangju's largest agricultural and fisheries food export, with exports totaling $349.12 million. That represented 41.5% of the region's total exports and 40.4% of nationwide laver exports, which amounted to $864.32 million.

Exports of abalone totaled $28.20 million, while seaweed exports reached $25.45 million. Seaweed exports increased 16.3% from the same period last year. Jeonnam-Gwangju accounted for 74.2% of nationwide abalone exports and 70.1% of nationwide seaweed exports.

Japan was the largest export destination, with exports totaling $157.59 million (18.7%). It was followed by the United States at $156.00 million (18.5%) and China at $138.62 million (16.5%). Exports to the three countries accounted for 53.7% of the total.

Fisheries products, including laver, abalone, seaweed and hijiki, were the main exports to Japan. Laver exports to the United States totaled $113.27 million. China's main imports from the region included laver, powdered milk, duck down and beer.

By region, Mokpo had the highest exports at $148.02 million. It was followed by Buk-gu, Gwangju, at $138.33 million; Naju at $96.72 million; Goheung County at $92.35 million; Sinan County at $78.70 million; and Wando County at $54.61 million.

Gwangju Special City plans to continue overseas promotions for products such as abalone and kimchi and expand local distribution networks through the end of the year. It will also carry out export support programs for companies in cooperation with cities, districts and counties, as well as export support agencies.

Kim Kisuk, Director of the Policy Planning Bureau, said, "While core products such as laver continue to provide a solid foundation for exports, a range of Korean foods, including alcoholic beverages, other beverages, coffee preparations and rice cakes, are emerging as new drivers of export growth. We will do our utmost to expand the global market presence and exports of agricultural, fisheries and food products from Jeonnam-Gwangju by strengthening overseas promotions, expanding distribution networks and supporting export companies through the end of the year."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.