Seoul Food 2016
The best meat, dairy, fruit, vegetables, wines and processed foods from Victoria – Australia’s leading State in food and agriculture – were showcased at Seoul Food 2016 from May 10-13 at KINTEX in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province. A trade mission of 13 representative Victorian food and beverage enterprises participated in the event.
The world-class food products and services displayed at the Victoria booth included table grapes, dried vine fruit and almonds from such food and beverage cooperatives as the Australian Table Grape Association, Australian Premium Dried Fruit, Fresh Select and Ozland Collection. Other Victorian suppliers showcased a wide array of healthy food offerings which included premium wines, organic tea, chilled and frozen beef and pork, sausages and burgers, dips and yoghurt, as well as other high quality ingredients and gourmet food items.
Victoria is Australia’s largest exporter state in the food sector, with exports valued at A$11.6 billion in 2014-15 (July 1 to June 30 fiscal year), accounting for 27 percent of the country’s food and fibre exports. Victoria produces more than 40 percent of the country’s processed food, over 80 percent of its dairy exports and nearly 50 percent of its horticulture exports.
Korea is one of the top markets for Victoria’s food and fibre exports, with a total export value of A$370 million in 2014-15, recording about 15 percent annual growth. Key food exports to Korea were meat with 36 percent of the total, dairy with 19 percent, grain with 16 percent and prepared food with 6 percent.
Particularly, horticulture exports to Korea jumped in 2014-15 by 376 percent from the previous year, led by an increase in exports of table grapes, fresh potatoes and almonds. Given Victoria’s 95 percent share of Australia's global table grape exports and 70 percent of almond exports, the upsurge is expected to continue as tariffs on Australian products decline in Korea.
Before the event, Adam Cunneen, Commissioner for the State Government of Victoria to the Republic of Korea, said, “Korea is one of Victoria’s most valuable food and beverage markets, and this trade mission will be a good opportunity for Victorian food and beverage companies to take advantage of trade opportunities in this growing market. We’re working to increase the partnership with the Korean food industry, so that Victoria’s safe, fresh and diverse food products continue to be widely available to Korean consumers.”