SEOUL: The Korea Customs Service said 863,660 tons of fruit were imported last year, up more than four percent from 2015.
Fruit imports have steadily risen over the years from under 350,000 tons in 2000 to some 840,000 in 2012.
Avocados posted the steepest growth of 92 percent. More than 2,900 tons were imported last year. Orange imports were up nearly 39 percent to 154,900 tons. And imports of kiwifruit, melon, pineapple and durian also increased last year.
The Philippines was the main exporter of fruit to South Korea, accounting for 44 percent of total imports. The United States trailed at 28-point-eight percent.
