(Photo: Yonhap)
South Korea's kimchi exports in January-August 2021 reached 111.5 million dollars.
Data from the Korea Customs Service showed outbound shipments of the traditional Korean side dish jumped 13.8 percent from a year earlier, while imports of kimchi fell 9.7 percent on-year to 86.1 million dollars.
The trend indicates South Korea will likely register a surplus in the kimchi trade in 2021 to mark a first in 12 years.
Industry insiders have attributed the rise in kimchi exports to growing demand for healthier foods amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and greater interest in Korean foods and culture.
Kimchi is normally made of fermented cabbage, salt and hot peppers and is packed with nutrients, healthy bacteria and probiotics, which help overall wellness of the body.
Japan was the biggest buyer of kimchi, accounting for largest portion of 57.2 million dollars in the eight-month period, followed by the United States with 18.9 million dollars and Hong Kong with 5.4 million dollars.
The sharp drop in kimchi is believed to be due to a video that went viral in March showing unsanitary handling of cabbage soaked in salt in China, the largest exporter of kimchi to South Korea.
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