South Korea: Beer Market Report
The imported beer market in South Korea continues to show robust growth due to strong consumer demand for products of diversified taste and higher quality. Korea’s beer imports totaled about $152 million in 2016 through October, up nearly 29 percent from the same period in 2015. Imports from the United States amounted to $8 million during the period, up 2.4 percent. While American beer faces elevated competition against export-oriented competitors, emerging demand for premium quality craftbeer among the opinion-leading beer consumer groups, coupled with further reductions of the import duty under the United States – Korea Free Trade Agreement, should generate new export opportunities for American beer sales to Korea in the coming years.
