Browse Data and Analysis

On November 12, 2019, Statistics Korea (KOSTAT) released its revised 2019 rice production estimate of 3.744 million metric tons (MMT), down 1 percent from the initial rice production estimate....

In Marketing Year (MY) 2019/20 (July – June), Korea’s fresh apple production is projected to increase 7 percent to 508,000 metric tons (MT), mainly due to favorable weather during the flowering....

In marketing year 2019/20, Korea’s pear production is projected to increase by 3.4 percent to 210,000 metric tons due to increased yield as a result of better weather conditions....

For Marketing Year (MY) 2019/20, FAS/Seoul has increased the projection for corn imports to 10.8 MMT.

South Korea’s Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional (HRI) food service sector continues to grow as consumers spend more on dining out and look for more convenience in their busy lives.

In Marketing Year (MY) 2020 (January – December), Korea’s chicken production is projected to increase about 1.6 percent to 957,000 metric tons (MT) compared to MY 2019.

Korea will continue to expand its cattle inventories and consume more domestic and imported beef during the remainder of 2019 and into 2020.

The United States continues to be a top supplier of forage to South Korea.

Korean imports of seafood in 2018 totaled $5.79 billion, up 16.2 percent from 2017 due to rising prices and increased imports of shrimp and squid.

Elevated food safety concerns coupled with evolved taste of the South Korean consumers generate increased demand for imported organic foods.

Strong consumer demand for value, quality, convenience, and diversity generates increased demand for imported agricultural products in the Korean retail industry.

On April 30, 2019, U.S. Embassy Seoul’s Office of Agricultural Affairs, the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) Korea office, and the Korea Biofuels Forum (KBF) jointly hosted the 2019 Seoul Fuel Ethanol....