Exports of soju, South Korea's traditional distilled liquor, increased 13.2 percent in 2022 from a year earlier, data showed Tuesday, rebounding for the first time in three years.

Outbound shipments of soju reached $93.3 million in 2022, rising sharply from $82.4 million tallied a year earlier, according to the data compiled by the Korea Customs Service.

In terms of volume, exports advanced 12.7 percent to reach 67,104 tons, the data showed. Soju is a clear, distilled liquor made with grain.

Exports of soju had been decreasing since reaching the peak of $97.5 million in 2018, with the COVID-19 pandemic also dealing a harsh blow on the consumption of alcoholic beverages around the globe.

Overseas sales of other types of Korean liquors, including fruit-flavored soju, reached a record high of $88.9 million in 2022, up 9.9 percent from a year earlier, the customs data added. (Yonhap)