Sales of imported beer in Korea surged at the beginning of this year following the implementation of the country's free trade deal with the European Union (EU), industry data showed Wednesday.
According to E-Mart Co., South Korea's leading retail outlet, sales of foreign beers from Jan. 1 to Feb. 13 soared 56.2 percent from the same period last year, outpacing sales of local beers, which fell 3.2 percent, and soju, a traditional distilled beverage, which dipped 0.1 percent.
E-Mart said it sells some 200 kinds of foreign beer, including the popular Dutch beer Heineken.
Lotte Mart Co., the third-largest discount chain store, said its sales of imported beer grew 4.6 percent over the period, while sales of other alcoholic beverages such as domestic beer and wine shrank slightly.
As a result, sales of overall alcoholic beverage sales dropped 4.7 percent on-year, according to Lotte Mart.
Market watchers said South Korean retailers are increasing imports of European beers as the Seoul-Brussel free trade agreement (FTA) phases out tariffs on European beers within seven years. The FTA took effect on July 1 last year.
A growing number of young consumers who prefer foreign beers to domestic brands is also credited with the increase in sales, they added. (Yonhap)