South Korea's ginseng exports rise 2.8% in 2014

South Korea's ginseng exports increased last year on the back of steady demand from the Greater China Region and Japan, customs data showed Friday.

Ginseng exports gained 2.8 percent from a year earlier to 160 million U.S. dollars in 2014, according to the Korea Customs Service (KCS).

Ginseng roots were most popular, accounting for 63 percent of the total ginseng product exports. It was followed by ginseng extracts with 18 percent, processed food with 15 percent and ginseng powder with 4 percent.

Demand was strong from the Greater China Region and Japan. Ginseng exports to China's Hong Kong took up 27 percent of the total in 2014, trailed by Chinese mainland and Japan that accounted for 20 percent respectively.

Ginseng shipments to China's Taiwan made up 15 percent of the total last year, and the United States accounted for 7 percent.

The customs service said that South Korea's ginseng exporters recently increased the establishment of corporate entities in China and Japan, resulting in rising exports.