S. Korea's camping goods trade hits new high of US$399 million in 2020

South Korea exported and imported US$399 million worth of camping equipment last year, up 40 percent from the previous year, to reach an all-time high, according to the Korea Trade Statistics Promotion Institute.

The momentum continued in the first half of this year with trade-in camping gear stood at $293 million, surpassing the $285 million registered in 2019.

South Korea's exported $102 million worth of camping equipment in the first half of this year, up 84.7 percent from a year earlier.

Imports of camping goods skyrocketed 105.2 percent on year to $191 million, resulting in a trade deficit of $90 million in the sector.

Exports soared 75.1 percent with imports spiking 136.2 percent in the January-June period, compared with the pre-pandemic first half of 2019.

South Korea's deficit in camping goods trade surged from $38 million in 2019 to $100 million last year.

The forecast for this year's camping goods exports and imports is to be well above last year's amount.

Major export destinations for South Korean camping goods in the first half were the US and Japan while the top exporters to |South Korea were China, Vietnam, and the US.

The report attributed the sharp rise in the camping goods trade to the COVID-19 outbreak, which has made overseas travel impossible and prompted people to engage in more outdoor activities.