S Korea's farm goods exports slow on weak demand from China

SEOUL — South Korea's farm goods exports slowed due to weak demand from China, a government report showed Wednesday.

Exports of farm goods and food to China reached $435.7 million in the January-June period, down 11.4 percent from the same period of last year, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

The agricultural product exports to China kept a monthly downward trend, after growing 7.4 percent in March.

The falling exports to China pulled down South Korea's overall farm goods exports. The growth rate of South Korea's exports of food and agricultural products fell from 11.3 percent in March to 6.5 percent in June.

The ministry said the South Korean government needed to continue investment in China, which is the world's largest food market.

It drew up a set of measures to expand food exports to China, including efforts to produce food tailored to Chinese consumers.