National Data Office reports barley output jumps 47 percent on expanded acreage

The National Data Office said Tuesday that domestic barley production surged 47.3 percent this year to 136,000 tons, driven by a sharp expansion in planted area following last year's price increases. Total cultivated land grew 47.6 percent to 37,250 hectares, while yield per unit remained flat at 365 kilograms per 10 ares.

Garlic production climbed 1.2 percent to 314,000 tons despite a 4.2 percent drop in yield caused by heavy rains and high temperatures. The increase came from a 5.6 percent rise in planting area to 24,232 hectares.

Onion production grew 2.1 percent to 1.207 million tons, buoyed by favorable weather that boosted yields by 2.8 percent. This gain offset a 0.7 percent contraction in planting area to 17,556 hectares amid lower prices in the previous year.

Regionally, Jeonnam-Gwangju accounted for 46.1 percent of barley output, followed by Jeonbuk at 39.5 percent. Gyeongnam led garlic production with 36 percent of the national total, while Jeonnam-Gwangju produced 33.3 percent of the country's onions.

Seo Jun-han, distribution and consumption policy director at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, addressed the onion surplus in a separate statement. "To stabilize the supply and demand of domestic onions, we have completed the market isolation of 368 hectares of early-season varieties that lack storage durability," he said, adding that authorities are reviewing expanded government purchases for mid-to-late season crops and launching consumption promotion campaigns.

The ministry expects the 2026 barley supply to exceed annual domestic demand, which stands between 110,000 and 120,000 tons. Officials also plan to push for increased exports to manage the continued surplus in onion production.