ATO Seoul Organizes U.S. Pavilion at Seoul Food & Hotel Show 2021, KINTEX, July 27-30, 2021

Thirty-two U.S. companies and trade associations joined ATO Seoul at the U.S. Pavilion to exhibit a wide range of high-quality food and agricultural products at the Seoul Food &Hotel 2021. Products exhibited included berries, fruits, snack foods, beverage products, dairy products, ingredients, sauces, and desserts. The U.S. Pavilion was the largest international pavilion at the show.

Strong economic and cultural ties, combined with the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA), make Korea an excellent market for U.S. products. The KORUS FTA has eliminated tariffs on over two-thirds of U.S. food and agricultural products. In 2020 U.S. agricultural exports to Korea exceeded $7.7 billion, including over $4.5 billion in high value consumer-oriented products.

Great American Craft Beer Showcase @ KIBEX 2021, May 17-19, 2021

ATO Seoul in a partnership with the Brewers Association (BA) organized 'Great American Craft Beer Showcase' at the Korea International Beer Expo (KIBEX) 2021, May 17-19.  A total of 33 U.S. craft breweries from 13 different states participated in the activity, showcasing the quality, value, and diversity that the U.S. craft beer industry has to offer to the Korean beer trade and consumers.  Nine of the breweries had no Korean importer partners and looked for new export opportunities in the activity.  No brewery representatives were able to travel to the program due to the COVID-19 travel restrictions.  As a result, ATO Seoul represented the nine breweries in the activity, meeting with potential Korean importers and pouring samples to consumer visitors on behalf of the breweries.  The remaining 24 breweries were represented by their Korean importer partners in the activity.  About 300 Korean beer buyers and industry professionals visited the activity.  Additionally, ATO Seoul identified 20 Korean importers during the activity who expressed serious interest in importing new U.S. craft beer.  ATO Seoul's evaluation of the trade leads suggests that five of the nine new-to-market breweries participated in the activity will develop Korean importer contracts within the next 12 months.

Busan International Seafood & Fisheries Expo 2020

ATO Seoul partnered with the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) and Food Export USA Northeast to organize a U.S. Pavilion at the 18th Busan International Seafood & Fisheries Expo 2020, November 5 – 7.  The event generated over 12 serious trade leads from Korean seafood importers interested in a range of U.S. fishery products.  ATO Seoul exhibited U.S. seafood samples and provided information on U.S. seafood suppliers and products to Korean buyers.  ASMI and Food Export USA NE also participated in the U.S. Pavilion by providing seafood suppliers directories and seafood information.  South Korea is the United States fourth largest export market for fishery products.  U.S. seafood products to Korea totaled $232 million in 2019 according to Korean import statistics.  Alaska pollack surimi, livers/roes/milt of Alaska pollack and other fish, flatfish, live lobsters, fish fins/heads/tails/maws/other edible fish offal, and frozen Alaska pollack fish, Atka mackerel, live hagfish, other fish frozen and cod are the top ten U.S. seafood exports to Korea.  The United States is also an important market for Korean seafood.  For more information on the Korean seafood market please read ATO Seoul Seafood Market Update 2020.