Purchases by S. Koreans of ready-to-consume coffee grow 5.9% to 672.9 billion won in H1

South Korea's market for convenient coffee beverages expanded 5.9 percent on year to 672.9 billion won in the first half amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Canned coffee accounted for 258.6 billion won in sales, up 1.7 percent on-year, trailed by cup coffee with 217.5 billion won, increasing 1.6 percent.

It was bottled coffee with 137.5 billion won that expanded the most on-year at 18.6 percent.

Coffee beverage sales grew solidly as more consumers visited convenience stores instead of coffee shops due to the pandemic.

Industry leader Dongsuh Foods Corp. Took a market share of 25.7 percent, followed by Lotte Chilsung Beverage Co. with 25.3 percent, and Maeil Dairies Co. with 15.9 percent.