Korean province on track to surpass agri-food export record driven by fruits such as apples, peaches and strawberries
Key Korean production region North Gyeongsang province (Gyeongsangbuk-do) is expected to surpass its agri-food export record on the back of rising fruit exports.
The province shipped a record US$640m worth of agri-food products in 2021, and while 2022 totals are still being finalised, it surpassed its 2021 performance in October 2022.
Between January to October 2021 the value of North Gyeongsang province’s agri-food exports was US$485m, over the same period in 2022 exports reached US$679m, a 40 per cent increase.
Fresh fruit was a leading category with exports of apples, peaches, and strawberries growing by 81.3 per cent, 52.6 per cent, and 33.7 per cent respectively.
South-East Asia was a major outlet for much of the province’s agri-food export growth, exports to Thailand and Vietnam grew 112 per cent and 53 per cent. Meanwhile, exports to Taiwan and Hong Kong grew 60 per cent and 48 per cent.
North Gyeongsang province is one of Korea’s top fruit growing regions accounting for 30 per cent of the country’s production. It produces 64 per cent of the country’s apples, 52 per cent of its peaches, 54 per cent of its grapes and 86 per cent of its plums.
The province markets a selection of its premium fruit under the brand Daily. The provincial fruit brand is limited to apples, peaches, grapes, and plums that have undergone a strict selection process to meet quality, Brix and hygiene criteria making it a popular brand among buyers.
North Gyeongsang province has been conducting various projects to help achieve its goal of reaching US$800m of agri-food exports by 2026. It has established and promoted export diversification strategies through the construction of its Agri-food Export General Support Centre. It has also established customised marketing infrastructures for key growth markets in ASEAN and other regions.
