Browse Data and Analysis

On November 14, 2023, Statistics Korea (KOSTAT) released its final estimate of 2023 rice production at 3.7 million metric tons (MMT), up an additional 0.5 percent from the initial rice production estimates released in early October and down 1.6 percent overall from the prior year.

In 2023, the Korean government implemented three rounds of tariff rate quotas (TRQs) for various imported agricultural, livestock, and fishery products, including new TRQs to stabilize food prices.

As the 5th largest country export market for the United States, Korea provides a promising market for U.S. agricultural products. In 2022, Korea imported about $50 billion agricultural and food products from all over the world and the U.S. supplied a fifth of it, ranking number one. Other key suppliers were China, Australia, Brazil, Vietnam, and Thailand.

This report includes technical requirements and export certificates for the export of food and agricultural products to Argentina. It complements the Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards Annual Country 2023 Report

This report is an overview and update on regulations and standards for importing U.S. food and beverage products to Argentina. Post recommends U.S. suppliers interested in the Argentine market contact the FAS Buenos Aries office at AgBuenosAires@USDA.GOV or (011-54-11 577-4627 or contact local importers to discuss the rules and regulations applicable to import requirements for specific products.

Already reeling from high fruit prices, Korean consumers will face another year of expensive, lower-quality apples. Korea’s apple production for marketing year (MY) 2023/24 fell 25 percent year-on-year after orchards suffered a series of adverse weather events in 2023.

For marketing year (MY) 2023/24, Post estimates an increase in fresh lemon production. This upward revision is attributed to producers' expectations of favorable weather conditions. Post’s MY 2022/23 production estimate is revised up 12 percent due to less severe drought conditions than initially expected.

Ample opportunities exist for U.S. agricultural exports to South Korea. Highlighted in the chart above, U.S. agricultural product exports were a record $9.5 billion in 2022, up 2 percent from 2021. South Korea is the sixth largest export market for the United States, thanks in part to a successful free trade agreement (KORUS) between the two countries and a robust demand for high-quality U.S. food products.

The Government of Argentina (GOA) approved five new genetically engineered (GE) events in 2023 (two soybean and three corn). Argentina and Brazil continue to be at the forefront of biotechnology and signed the Cooperation Agreement on Biosafety of Modern Biotechnology Products on October 20, 2022.

Korea has not finalized the May 2021 revisions of its Living Modified Organism (LMO) Act, which defines Korea’s regulatory policies for products developed through innovative technologies including genome editing.