Focused Trade Mission to Korea for Specialty and Retail

Jumpstart Your Product Export Sales to South Korea

South Korea has proven to be an appealing and profitable market for U.S. companies for many years. USDA’s Agricultural Trade Office (ATO) in Seoul, hereinafter referred to as “Post”, reports that the U.S. is the leading exporter of agricultural products to Korea with a 24% market share. While total U.S. bulk agricultural exports to Korea dipped in 2019, exports of consumer-oriented products such as meat, dairy, and processed products continue to grow.

Despite escalated competition from export-oriented competitors, consumer-oriented American products continued to lead the expansion of the export market in Korea, which reflected Korean consumers’ increased demand for better value, quality and diversity. The Korea-United States Free Trade Agreement, (KORUS) implemented in 2012, coupled with on-going evolvement of the Korean food market, should generate greater export opportunities for American products in Korea in the coming years.

U.S. Food & Agricultural Product Imports to South Korea, By the Numbers

U.S. Consumer-Oriented Foods - US$4.7 billion (2019)
U.S. Processed Foods - US$2.9 billion (2019)

By the year 2024, Euromonitor projects the retail sales in the packaged food market in Korea is expected to increase 9.7% to US$31.2 billion, or US$2.8 billion more.

Services Provided

One-on-one meetings with qualified buyers
Pre-event custom product research including market overview, importation analysis and distribution analysis
Market briefing by local USDA, Foreign Agricultural Service and retail store tour
Table top showcase and trade reception
Dedicated interpreter
Translation of up to 2 pages of materials to Korean
Inclusion in Trade Mission brochure containing your company profile, contact details and product lines
Identifying top leads and follow-up letter in Korean
On-site assistance by Food Export's In-Market Representative

Products of Interest

Top U.S. products in demand:

Food Preparations
Fats and Oils
Prepared/Preserved Seafood
Processed/Prepared Dairy Products
Non-Alcoholic Beverages
Processed/Prepared Vegetables And Pulses
Prepared/Preserved Meats
Beer and Wine
Chocolate and Confectionery
Snack Foods

Preparation Assistance

Export Success

Participants in 2019 Focused Trade Missions Reported:

Your Connection To Growth™

Food Export–Midwest and Food Export–Northeast prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, familial/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity. Persons with disabilities who require reasonable accommodations or alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact us. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online https://www.ascr.usda.gov/filing-program-discrimination-complaint-usda-customer.

Food Export–Midwest and Food Export–Northeast reserve the right to deny services to any firm or individual which, in the sole opinion of Food Export–Midwest and Food Export–Northeast, does not comply with FAS, MAP or Food Export–Midwest and Food Export–Northeast regulations or policies, or otherwise offer the best opportunity to achieve its mission of increasing food and agricultural exports. Submission of any false or misleading information may be grounds for rejection or subsequent revocation of any application or participation. Food Export–Midwest and Food Export–Northeast are equal opportunity employers and providers.

Trade Mission