Great American Craft Beer Showcase Booth @ Seoul Int’l Wine & Spirits Expo 2015, April 23-25.

In partnership with a group of new-to-market American exporters and local Korean importers, the ATO sponsored the ‘Great American Craft Beer Showcase’ booth in the Seoul International Wines & Spirits Expo 2015. A wide variety of premium craft beer from over 17 American breweries was featured in the booth for tasting and business consultation to some 2,000 trade visitors from the Korean foodservice and retail industry during the show. The five exhibitors in the booth reportedly gained over 150 serious business contacts with trade buyers during the show, which would potentially generate $250,000 of new exports of American craft beer to Korea within the 12 months following the show. Korean consumers’ increased attention to quality and variety has led to a significant growth of imported beer market. Korea’s beer imports amounted to $112 million in 2014, up 25 percent from the previous year. Although facing tough competition from export-oriented competitors such as EU countries, the U.S. craft brewers are also likely to see a solid export growth to Korea in the coming year.

Korean Pecan Buyers Delegation to Georgia Generates New Business Opportunities

A group of six key Korean buyers and processors of tree nuts traveled to Georgia pecan industry, March 3-6, 2015. The program, sponsored by Georgia Pecan Growers Association, allowed the delegation to develop business contacts with leading pecan growers and packers in Georgia. In addition, the delegation developed better understanding about the value and quality of Georgia pecan through fieldtrips to local farms and processing plants. Follow-up evaluation survey administered by ATO Seoul indicated that the delegation was likely to generate over $150,000 of new sales to the Georgia pecan industry within this year. For more information about the Georgia pecan industry, please visit the association’s website: www.georgiapecan.org.

Gyeongbuk Province Horse Delegation Develops Partnerships with Key American Horse Organizations

A group of five horse industry leaders of Gyeongbuk province, South Korea traveled to the United States, February 23 - March 3 under co-sponsorship of ATO Seoul and Gyeongbuk provincial government. Through collaboration with the US Livestock Genetics Export, Inc., the delegation visited American Quarter Horse Association (Amarillo, TX); Keeneland Association (Lexington, KY); and Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (Denver, CO) during the trip and discussed potential bi-lateral partnership programs to support horse industry development projects in Gyeongbuk province. In addition, the delegation toured many breeding farms, riding centers and racetracks in various locations and learned about advanced knowledge and practices that the U.S. horse industry has to offer. The delegation is expected to generate new sales of 50 American quarter horses to the province within 2015, valued around $300,000. More importantly, several Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Gyeongbuk province and the American horse industry organizations is likely to develop in the coming months, which will provide a solid foundation for long-term contribution of American horses in the development of local horse industry in Gyeongbuk province.