Economy

ROK's kimchi shortfall boosts Chinese exports

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-10-22 09:20

QINGDAO - East China's Shandong province has seen cabbage exports rising sharply due to a kimchi shortage in the Republic of Korea (ROK) across the Yellow Sea.

Related readings:  Chinese firm to export 1,500 tonnes of cabbage to S Korea  Chinese exports ease Korean kimchi crisis  Koreans go sour on soaring kimchi prices

Cabbage shipments from Shandong rose 32 percent in the August-September period from last year's total amount, to 214.8 tons, custom authorities in the coastal city of Qingdao said Thursday.

The exports valued $61,200, up 111 percent from last year's level.

Customs authorities expect cabbage exports to continue to rise after the ROK abolished 30-percent tariffs on Chinese cabbage beginning from Oct 14 to the end of 2010 to grapple with the short supply of kimchi.

The ROK's cabbage production decreased about 30 percent as a result of bad weather. The price of cabbage reached 13,800 won ($12.4) per head on Sept 27, an increase of 250 percent year-on-year.

Kimchi, made of cabbage fermented in white radish and chili paste seasoning, is the national dish of the country.