Korean fruit imports increased sharply in March owing mainly to a decreased local supply after a lengthy spell of cold weather, according to the country's customs office.
The Korea Customs Service said the value of orange imports more than tripled between February and March to US$33.33m and import volumes increased by 222 per cent to 29,266 tonnes in the same period.
The country's orange imports grew 70 per cent on the same month in 2009 and the US was the only country supplying the oranges, JoongAng Daily reported.
Banana imports from the Philippines increased by 61 per cent for the month and a 50 per cent increase was recorded for Philippines pineapples.
Imports of grapes for the month rose by 245 per cent to US$20.11m and Korea's grape imports more than doubled on the same period a year ago.
