Chungnam's Seafood Product Exports Reach $85.09 Million in First Half, a Record High

[Asia Economy (Hongseong) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] Chungnam Province announced on the 27th that the export value of seafood products in the first half of this year reached $85.09 million.

This is a 56.1% increase compared to the previous year (54.51 billion KRW in the first half) and marks an all-time high.

In particular, the export value of seafood products from the Chungnam region continued its 16-month consecutive growth streak despite the spread of COVID-19, and last year, for the first time in history, exceeded $100 million.

Exports of processed seafood products such as seasoned laver played a key role in driving this export boom. In the first half of this year, exports of other processed seafood products totaled $55.13 million, a 39.3% increase compared to the same period last year ($39.59 million), accounting for 64.8% of the region's total seafood product exports.

Additionally, laver exports amounted to $25.15 million (up 98.4% compared to the same period last year), other seafood products $1.56 million (up 72.3%), and fish meat $1.08 million (no change), each contributing to the strong export performance of the region's seafood products.

By country, China recorded the largest export value at $37.23 million. Exports to China in the first half of this year increased by 111.3% compared to the same period last year ($17.62 million).

Following China, Chungnam's export values were $14.38 million to the United States (up 5.3%), $4.77 million to Taiwan (up 56.5%), $3.8 million to Russia (up 92.3%), and $2.98 million to Australia (up 84%).

Jo Won-gap, Director of the Marine and Fisheries Bureau of Chungnam Province, said, “If the current trend continues, Chungnam is expected to achieve its seafood product export target of $130 million early in the third quarter this year,” adding, “The province will do its best to foster and support related industries such as seafood processing to set a new record for exports this year.”