South Korea’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and North Gyeongsang Province held an event in Sangju on October 15 to promote grape exports. The ministry said it aims to make grapes the first single fresh agricultural product to reach $1 billion in exports.
At the event, representatives of grape growers and exporters signed a standard mutual-benefit trade contract. It sets out payment procedures and quality requirements, with the aim of giving farmers stable sales channels and exporters reliable supplies of high-quality fruit.
The ministry unveiled its GRAPE strategy to expand exports in the second half of 2026. Its five pillars are securing stable export volumes, strengthening production and quality, accelerating fresh-product logistics, targeted and coordinated marketing, and fair trade with support on the ground.
Under the plan, 12,000 tonnes of grapes — 93% of this year’s target volume — have been assembled in advance. The number of quarantine sites for exports to the United States will rise from 31 to 41. Funding for export production support will increase by 34% from last year to 8 billion won.
Support for cold-chain logistics will grow by 53% to 6 billion won. South Korea plans to focus on the US market from December through January, develop the premium gift-set market in Taiwan, and introduce anti-counterfeit packaging in ASEAN markets while developing newer destinations such as the Philippines.
During the peak shipping season, a joint task force of relevant agencies will review exporters’ difficulties each week and work to address them. The event also included checks of the sweetness, weight and colour of freshly harvested Shine Muscat grapes; organisers said the fruit exceeded export quality standards.
