SEOUL, Aug. 3 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s imports of squid have soared in recent months in the wake of a drastic drop in catch of squid in South Korean waters.
Data released by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries shows the quantity of squid imported during the first half of this year was estimated at 53,000 tons, up 60 percent compared to the same time last year.
The value of the imports amounted to 148 million dollars, up over 80 percent over the same period.
The increased imports come due to a lack of domestically-caught squid from the waters off the coast of Korea, which is making retailers rely on imports from countries like Peru and Chile.
Along with squid, shrimp imports also increased in the first half of the year, up 16.8 percent on year, amounting to 269.28 million dollars.
Imports of pollack and salmon, which have gained popularity among South Korean consumers in recent years, have also increased, up 22.2 and 25.9 percent, respectively.
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)