SEOUL, KOREA- Korea’s beer exports amounted to $99 million in the first half of this year, according to industry sources. By company, OB Beer came on top with $66 million in exports, followed by Hite Jinro with $33 million.Korea’s beer exports were higher than the domestic sales of import beers which stood at $73.59 million in the January-June period of this year. Given the recent flood of import beers into the Korean market, the first-half figures seem a bit unusual.

This trend, however, is not new. In full year 2012, OB Beer exported $133 million worth of beers, while Hite Jinro shipped $73 million. Last year’s liquor imports, including beer, vodka, sake, cognac, and tequila, totaled $133 million, similar to the amount of OB Beer’s annual beer exports.

Backed by the upward trend in shipments, the nation’s beer brewers will likely to expand the exports of beer using their own brands. Thus far, most of national beers have exported on an OEM basis.