-KH News Desk (cbedit@imaws.org)
In 2021, the Korean province of Gyeongsangbuk-do set an all-time high for exports with USD 640 million. As of October 2022, the export performance of the previous year had already been surpassed, therefore it is anticipated that the agrifood export record will be renewed this year.
Gyeongsangbuk-do Province alone exported USD 679.64 million in agrifood in October 2022, a 40% increase over the USD 485.45 million exported in October 2021.
Apple, peach, and strawberry exports have surged by 81.3%, 52.6%, and 33.7% respectively among fresh agricultural products. Thailand, the Taiwan region, Vietnam, and Hong Kong S.A.R. have seen increases in export of 114.1%, 60%, 53.5%, and 48.5%, respectively, during the past year.
Fresh fruits are the most well-liked Korean agricultural products in Southeast Asia. Due to the sweet flavour, fragrant quality, and good quality, consumers buy Korean fruits for ancestral ceremonies and gifts.
Fruits thrive in the high-altitude mountain territory around Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, which has a large daily temperature variation and little precipitation. About 30% of the world’s fruit production comes from this region. Gyeongsangbuk-do Province produces 64%, 52%, 54%, and 86% of the world’s apples, peaches, grapes, and plums, respectively.
Gyeongsangbuk-do Province has been working on numerous projects in the meantime to reach an 800 million USD agrifood export goal by 2026. The creation of the Agrifood Export General Support Center, the development of country-specific marketing infrastructure for expanding markets in the ASEAN and other regions, the expansion of exported goods for mainstream markets, and the operation of permanent stores overseas for agrifood.
