Browse Data and Analysis

The Korean government revised its marketing year (MY) 2024/25 rice production estimate down to reflect a 2-percent yield reduction from extreme heat, untimely rains, and pest damage.

Chocolate is a popular product in the Korean market, with 2023 sales reaching $578 million and imports of chocolate totaling $356 million.

Korean imports of cheese products continue to grow, seeing a five percent compound annual growth rate over the last five years. Mozzarella is the most imported cheese product and the United States is the leading supplier of cheese to Korea.

Korea’s beer imports reached $218 million in 2023, up 11.8 percent from $195 million in 2022, but still 30 percent down from the record high of $310 million in 2018. Although Korea’s beer imports have been decreasing since the pandemic, the United States increased exports of beer to Korea in 2023, reaching $17.9 million, up 43% from $12.5 million in 2022.

In 2016, overall local raw milk products decreased 4.5 percent by a volume of 2 million metric tons (MT), but per capita volume consumption continued to increase to 76.4 kilograms in 2016.

South Korea’s horse imports totaled $25.2 million in 2016. The United States remained the leading exporter to Korea by shipping horses valued at $18.1 million, up 15 percent from the previous year.

Infographic showing the growth of U.S. pork exports which topped $5.7 billion in 2016.

This first Korean apple report highlights apple market dynamics in Korea. Although production area has been growing in recent years, harvest yields fluctuate due to weather patterns.

Korean beef production will increase slightly in 2018, supported by calf production that is marginally higher than previously forecast.