Korean Seafood Trade Mission to Seafood Expo Global 2019 Leads to $6.1 million in Potential Export Sales

ATO Seoul recruited mission members and coordinated the visit of five Korean seafood importers to the Seafood Expo Global (SEG) held in Brussels, Belgium, May 7-9, 2019. The program allowed the importers to meet suppliers of various American seafood products and to gain a better understanding of the U.S. seafood sector. According to the mission participants surveyed right after the activity, the trade mission resulted in a couple of contracts signed on the spot and an estimated $6.1 million of potential purchases from U.S. seafood suppliers over the next 12 months. In calendar year 2018, Korea imported $261 million of U.S. seafood, up 12.3 percent from $233 million in 2017.

American Quarter Horse Western Riding School, March 18 – April 12, 2019

The second year ‘American Quarter Horse Western Riding School’, co-organized by ATO Seoul and the Korea Quarter Horse Association (KQHA), took place from March 18-April 12 and provided leaders of the local quarter horse industry with in-depth, hands-on training on western horsemanship and riding skills. Following the program launch in 2018, the school this year was again a four-week program led by two professional American trainers from the Wild Horsemanship Center, Reddick, FL. The knowledge, skills, and experiences gained by KQHA leaders under this training will provide an important stepping-stone for KQHA to further evolve, while supporting additional export opportunities for American quarter horses for the recreational horse riding industry emerging in Korea. KQHA is planning to import additional stud stallions and breeding mares, which is likely to generate $500,000 of new export opportunities for American quarter horse industry within the next three years.

Korean Pet Food Buyer Delegation to 2019 Global Pet Expo, Orlando, FL, March 19-22

ATO Seoul organized a delegation of Korean pet food buyers to the Global Pet Expo 2019 held in Orlando, Florida. The delegation included twelve buyers from five retailers and trading companies. Global Pet Expo, hosted by the American Pet Products Association (APPA) and the Pet Industry Distributors Association (PIDA), is one of pet industry’s largest trade shows introducing new and innovative pet products on the market. Through the trade show, Korean buyers were able to improve their understanding on US pet food brands, products, high standards, and build relationship with industry stakeholders. Moreover, though retail market tours arranged by ATO, buyers were able to enhance their understanding on consumer trends in pet food. As a result of this buying mission, the participants successfully conducted 176 business meetings with American pet food suppliers and estimated around $2.8 million in sales within the next 12 months.