Food imports grew 16 percent year-on-year in the first half of 2017.
 
According to data from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety on Thursday, food imports from January to June rose 15-point-nine percent on-year to some 12-point-eight billion dollars. 
 
The import volume logged over nine-point-three million tons with imports coming from 162 countries in total.
 
In terms of monetary value, food imports from the United States accounted for the most at over three billion dollars followed by  China, Australia, Vietnam and Germany.