Industry ministry steps up push for consumer exports to China

The industry ministry said Friday that South Korea's consumer-goods exports to China rose 8.7 percent from a year earlier to $3.44 billion in the first half.

Fashion-apparel exports increased 33.4 percent and food exports rose 17.7 percent from a year earlier. Cosmetics exports turned positive in June, rising 23.8 percent from a year earlier, while gains extended across Chinese regions.

Korea's consumer-goods exports to China had declined after peaking at $9.3 billion in 2021. The government has sought to use improved bilateral relations following summit diplomacy and a February government-wide export expansion plan to support Korean consumer-goods sales in China.

At an Aug. 21 meeting with Korean commercial officers in China and heads of KOTRA trade offices, Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan said, "Consumer-goods exports to China, which had been contracting, are now showing a meaningful upward trend through concerted public-private efforts."

For the second half, the ministry will provide region-specific marketing, distribution and certification support. It plans live-commerce marketing through platforms such as Douyin and Xiaohongshu, pop-up stores in major cities, 10 new local distribution networks and logistics desks in Chengdu and Xi'an.

The ministry said JD.com, China's largest e-commerce platform, will begin importing Korean consumer goods.