ATO Seoul Promotes U.S. Seafood

ATO Seoul partnered with the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) and Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) to organize a U.S. Pavilion at the 22nd Busan International Seafood & Fisheries Expo 2024, November 6 – 8. ATO Seoul, partnering with ASMI, WSDA, and two U.S. seafood supplying companies, provided information on U.S. seafood products to Korean buyers, exhibited samples, and met with visitors in the U.S. Pavilion. Mark Dries, Minister-Counselor for FAS Seoul represented the United States at the grand opening ceremony and in the U.S. Seafood Pavilion. The event generated a number of serious trade leads from Korean seafood importers interested in a range of U.S. fishery products. South Korea is the United States fourth largest export market for fishery products. Korea imported $203 million worth of U.S. seafood in 2023, and another $276 million was transshipped through Korea. The top ten seafood imports from the United States by value in 2023 were Alaska pollack surimi, frozen flat fish, roes and milt of fish other than Alaska pollack, other fish frozen, fish fins/heads/tails/maws/other edible fish offal, fillet of plaice, roes and milt of Alaska pollack, frozen Atka mackerel, frozen Alaska pollack fish, and live hagfish. For more information on the Korean seafood market please read the ATO Seoul Seafood Market Update 2024.

Korean Buyers Delegation Brewing Ingredients RTM to Washington State

ATO Seoul brought a delegation of Korean brewers to Seattle and Yakima, Washington on August 2024 to help Korean ingredient users expand knowledge about the U.S. brewing ingredient and allow them to order ingredients on site. The delegation consisted of seven leading Korean craft brewers and one ATO staff. The team visited ten breweries, one cidery, two hop farms and one hop supplier. The delegation group also attended the Hop and Brew School hosted by Yakima Chief Hops and learned about the quality, value, technology of U.S. brewing ingredients. After the activity, four companies have responded that the activity resulted in $96,000 sales contract of hops. Six companies responded that they expect to purchase $377,000 of ingredient as a result of this activity within 12 months.

Pet Food Trade Mission to SuperZoo in Las Vegas in August 2024

ATO Seoul led a trade mission with 13 pet food buyers and distributors from eight Korean companies to SuperZoo, one of the world largest pet industry trade shows, held in Las Vegas, Nevada in August 2024. The trade mission aimed to discover the latest market trends and explore business opportunities. Organized by ATO Seoul, the program included meetings with U.S. companies and visits to pet food specialized distribution channels and a manufacturing facility to gain insights in the pet food businesses. The Korean buyers successfully engaged with many U.S. companies, leading to multiple purchasing contracts. In a follow-up survey, participants reported meeting with over 158 U.S. companies, with projected purchase contracts valued at $3,120,000 within the next 12 months.