Exporters urged to tap South Korean market

MORE Filipino food exporters, especially of fresh fruits, seafood and poultry, are invited to penetrate the huge South Korean market.

“Korea is a net importer of food. Seventy percent of food consumption in Korea is imported, (and is growing) around eight percent a year, so it’s a very big market,” said Emman Ang, executive director of Foreign Trade Service Corps (FTSC).

Ang said the Philippines is a huge exporter to Korea of fresh fruits, particularly mangoes and bananas, as well as frozen seafood, confectionery, biscuits and other products.

“Some of the things that are popular in Korea are bananas (which comprise) 80 percent of the market there; (and) pineapples also. Most of the pineapples you see in the supermarkets usually are Philippine pineapples. Mangoes and calamansi are also very popular,” he said.

Ang said the Philippines can also export chicken to Korea, after it finally opened its poultry market two years ago, following a decade of negotiations.

Ang said the country can likewise export high-value vegetables like okra.

“Aside from fresh fruits and frozen seafood, there are some other areas that we have not really tapped but which 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,” he added. (PHILEXPORT NEWS AND FEATURES)