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.

Great American Craft Beer Showcase Seoul @ KIBEX 2020, aT Center, Seoul, July 30 - August 1, 2020

The U.S. Agricultural Trade Office (ATO) Seoul and the Brewers Association (BA) co-organized the “Great American Craft Beer Showcase Seoul” at the Korea International Beer Expo (KIBEX) 2020, July 30 - August 3.  The ATO organized U.S. pavilion showcased a wide range of craft beer from 35 U.S. craft breweries, promoting the quality, value and diversity that the U.S. craft beer industry has to offer.  The 35 breweries were from 18 states, from Alaska to Maine.  Twelve of the breweries were new to the Korean market.  Approximately 1,500 people visited the pavilion during the show, including 500 beer industry buyers and professionals.  The show organizers took strict precautions to limit the risk of COVID-19.  This was ATO Seoul’s first in-person trade show in 2020.