The production and export volume of makgeolli, the traditional Korean rice wine, is on the rise despite a sluggish start this year, a report shows.

According to Statistics Korea on Monday, about 35,000 kl and 39,000 kl of makgeolli were produced in April and May this year, a 13-percent and 17-percent increase on-year. About 2,000 kl and 1,900 kl were shipped overseas, up 56 percent and 51 percent from the same months last year. In March, the liquor posted record exports with 2,200 kl.

The industry attributes the rise in demand to research showing that the drink contains a lot of farnesol, an organic compound that appears to function as a chemo-preventative and anti-tumor agent.

Makgeolli contains up to 25 times more farnesol than beer or wine.