South Korea: Korean beer exports up 14.9% in January - September

Exports of Korean beer are posting double-digit growth even as shipments of other products are steadily declining, The Chosun Ilbo reported on November 2.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Korea exported 89,488 tons of beer to some 50 countries from January to September, up 14.9 percent compared to the same period last year.

"Korean beer exports used to cater only to Koreans living overseas, but these days the customer base is expanding to include other nationalities," an industry insider said.

The increased demand stems from efforts by breweries to increase or decrease alcohol content according to local tastes, a rise in popularity of Korean products in China thanks to Korean pop culture, and a preference for low-alcohol beer in Muslim countries.

Korean beer is most popular in Hong Kong, whose annual imports totaled 55,483 tons in 2014. The next biggest importers are China, Iraq, Singapore and the U.S.

Some countries actually prefer the weak flavor of Korean beer. Iraq imported US$5.4 million worth of Korean beer this year, up 116 percent compared to 2014.

A ministry official said, "Devout Muslims don’t drink alcohol, but people in Kurdistan in northern Iraq enjoy a light drink, which is why they prefer lighter beer."

04 November, 2015