FILIPINO food exporters are urged to explore the huge opportunities presented by South Korea’s coffee market.

Emman Ang, executive director of Foreign Trade Service Corps., noted there are other areas local exporters have not really tapped, apart from fresh fruits and frozen seafood.

“There are some other areas that we have not really tapped but can be areas where we can export in food. One of them would be coffee, coffee-related products, anything that can be sold in a coffee shop. Korea is a coffee crazy country so it is a very big market,” he said.

Ang said they can sell specialized coffee beans, as well as muscovado and coconut sugar as more South Korean people are becoming health conscious.

“Just make sure your packaging is ready for the coffee market,” he advised local exporters during the Usapang Exports forum this week.

Ang identified other products they can sell in South Korea, such as confectioneries and biscuits, which coffee shops can serve alongside their coffee beverages.

“Seventy percent of food consumption in Korea is imported. Food consumption in Korea is growing around eight percent a year so it’s a very big market, very friendly to imports,” he said.

Ang further said the Philippines is a big exporter of fresh fruits to Korea. Philexport News and Features