SEOUL, Jan. 11 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea is expected to become the largest importer of U.S. beef for the first time in 13 years.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Meat Export Federation reported that a total of 253,175 tons of U.S. beef were exported to South Korea between January and November of last year, which was 16 percent more than the previous year.
Exports to Korea exceeded exports to Japan (238,811 tons), the largest importer of U.S. beef in 2020, by some 15,000 tons.
In dollars, the value of U.S. beef exports to South Korea reached an aggregate value of US$2.13 billion between January and November of last year, up 39 percent from the previous year.
With exports to Japan coming in at $1.71 billion, South Korea outpaced its neighbor to the east by some $400 million.
South Korea’s relationship with U.S. beef has gone through a dramatic change since 2008 when massive protests took place against the government’s decision to begin imports without addressing health risks associated with the move.
Image Credit: Yonhap / photonews@koreabizwire.com
