Exports of Farmed Seafood Hit New High in 2018

Dried laver is usually roasted with sesame oil and fine salt to be served as a side dish in Korean dining. (image: Korea Bizwire)

SEOUL, Jan. 16 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korean exports of farmed seafood products grew 2.5 percent on-year to a fresh all-time high in 2018, despite a drop in output, data showed Wednesday.

Overseas shipments of dried laver and other farm-raised seafood stood at US$2.38 billion last year, compared with $2.32 billion a year earlier, according to the data from the Korea Maritime Institute.

Dried laver was the biggest export item with shipments of $529 million, followed by oysters with $69 million and abalones with $65 million.

Dried laver is usually roasted with sesame oil and fine salt to be served as a side dish in Korean dining. Snacks made of dried laver have been gaining popularity among foreigners in recent years.

Imports of farmed seafood products expanded at a much faster pace to reach $5.96 billion last year, up 16.2 percent from a year earlier.

South Korea’s output from aquaculture amounted to 2.2 million tons in 2018, down 4.6 percent from the previous year. But it was higher than the average output of 1.78 million tons for the past five years.

Output of laver was the largest with 555,000 tons, trailed by sea mustard with 517,000 tons, oysters with 303,000 tons and flatfish with 37,000 tons.

(Yonhap)