Exports of fruits and vegetables have grown 22.9 percent over the past five years on rising demand from Asian countries and the United States, customs data showed Thursday.

A combined $304 million worth of fruit and greenstuffs were shipped overseas last year, up from $248 million in 2011, according to the data compiled by the Korea Customs Service.


Shipments of fruit including pears and strawberries rose 29.8 percent to $127 million over the five-year period, while exports of vegetables like Chinese cabbage and paprika reached $178 million in 2015, up 18.3 percent from five years earlier.

Taiwan was the biggest buyer of South Korean fruit, importing $31 million last year, followed by the U.S. with $29 million and Hong Kong with $20 million.

South Korean vegetables are far more popular among Japanese customers, as the neighboring country imported $104 million last year, while Taiwan and the U.S. bought $19 million and $18 million, respectively. (Yonhap)