South Korea gaining popularity among Australian horticultural exporters

South Korea is becoming an increasingly attractive export destination for a raft of Australia’s horticultural sectors, which are eager for a slice of this booming Asian market.

Former Australian ambassador to Korea, Bill Patterson and Australian Table Grapes Association chief executive Jeff Scott spruiking Australian table grapes in South Korea.

FRUIT, vegetable, nut and wine exporters are increasingly setting their sights on South Korea as tariffs continue to drop and Australian produce grows in popularity.

Table grape exports to the country more than doubled in 2019-20 compared to the previous 12 months, from 3234 tonnes to 8155 tonnes.

Australian Table Grape Association chief executive Jeff Scott said three years of investment in the South Korea market was paying off for Australian growers and exporters whose fruit has never been in such high demand.

“They were our fourth biggest market last season, whereas a year ago they were our 10th or 12th largest market,” Mr Scott said, adding exports were expected to continue to grow as Koreans have developed a taste for the new table grape varieties Australian farmers were growing.

He said prices were “reasonable”, but part of the lure for exporters was tariff-free access until May.

Department of Trade figures reveal table grape exports reached $13.8 million in 2019-20, oranges $6.5 million and potatoes $7.8 million.

Australia is the second biggest potato importer after the US, accounting for 40 per cent of all Korean potato imports, and is the main supplier of imported brussels sprouts.

AusVeg export development manager Michael Coote said tariffs being reduced or eliminated under the Korea-Australia free trade agreement – signed in 2014 and fully fulfilled by 2032 – contributed to strong growth in vegetable exports.

Meanwhile South Korea has just moved into second place on a list of the world’s most attractive wine markets after the US, according to Wine Intelligence’s Global Compass 2020, as wine consumption grows by more than 5 per cent annually.

This coincides with Koreans’ growing appreciation for Australian wine that has fuelled annual export growth there by 18 per cent, according to Wine Australia, between 2013-14 and 2019-20.

And despite the disruption COVID-19 has wrought on many industries, the value of Australian wine exports increased 15 per cent in 2019-20, with almost 40 per cent of the value of exports there prices above $90 or more per case.

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