(Yicai Global) Oct. 9 -- The first eight months of this year saw South Korean exports of seaweed products, instant noodles and beer to China grow against the overall trend, with annual increases of 46.2 percent, 45.7 percent, and 106.8 percent, respectively.

The surges are in stark contrast with the overall sharp drop in agricultural food exports to China related to anti-THAAD and trade-limiting activities, data from South Korea's Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs show.

Seaweed, instant noodles and beer made up about 18 percent of total agricultural exports from the country to China.

Exports of laver, or seaweed, products were boosted this year by a shortage in the domestic Chinese market, while growth in instant noodles exports was driven by the expansion of South Korean retail distribution in China and social media marketing.

South Korean beer makers adopted an original design manufacturer (ODM) model to supply Chinese distributors, thereby boosting exports. The ODM approach refers to a company designing and manufacturing a product based on the specifications of another company.