Cheonan grape cooperative targets 100 tonnes and $1 million in 2026 exports
A South Korean growers’ cooperative is targeting 100 tonnes and $1 million in grape exports in 2026. A new 10-tonne Kyoho shipment to the United States forms part of a campaign spanning North America and the Asia-Pacific region.
Cooperative sets 100-tonne export target
Cheonan Grape Farming Cooperative has set a 2026 export target of 100 tonnes of grapes worth $1 million as it seeks to expand sales beyond South Korea. Freezine News reported that the cooperative loaded a 10-tonne shipment of Kyoho grapes for the United States on September 9. The consignment was valued at approximately $100,000.
The cooperative plans to base the campaign mainly on 30 tonnes of Kyoho grapes and 60 tonnes of Shine Muscat. Those two varieties account for 90 tonnes of the stated annual target. Its principal established destinations are the United States, New Zealand, Australia and Canada, while it is also pursuing opportunities in China, the Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong and Europe.
Shipments accelerate from August
Commercial shipments gathered pace in August, when the cooperative exported 10 tonnes of Kyoho grapes to New Zealand and 6 tonnes to the United States. Freezine News said September shipments included 4 tonnes for Australia and 10 tonnes for the United States. The publication put exports as of September 9 at 30 tonnes worth about $400,000, while also describing the day’s 10-tonne US consignment as an additional shipment. The report therefore leaves unclear whether that load was included in the 30-tonne total.
The annual target implies an average export value of $10,000 per tonne. The 10-tonne US shipment carries the same implied unit value, while the reported $400,000 for 30 tonnes equates to roughly $13,333 per tonne. The source does not provide explanations such as differences in grape variety, grade, packaging or destination, so the figures should not be treated as directly comparable prices.
Quarantine rules raise the quality threshold
Stricter quarantine requirements in the United States and Australia are making production controls and reliable handling more important for exporters. Cooperative head Lee Seong-gi said the organization was focusing on safety and quality management throughout production and distribution. The strategy is to meet overseas specifications consistently and strengthen repeat demand rather than relying only on the opening of new markets.
The cooperative, established in 2005, began expanding overseas after its designation as an export production complex for China in 2015. From 2016 through 2025, it exported a cumulative 803 tonnes valued at $9.181 million. That works out to an average declared value of about $11,433 per tonne across the period, broadly framing the scale of its current $1 million objective without establishing a market price for individual varieties.
Cold-chain capacity supports expansion
The Cheonan Grape Export and Distribution Center was built in 2016 on a 2,109-square-meter site and has 585 square meters of floor space. An 84-square-meter external cold-storage facility was completed and registered for export operations in 2025. The center also has precooling and sorting areas, grading and cooling equipment, a forklift and a 1-tonne refrigerated truck.
The cooperative has 42 members cultivating 32 hectares. Its varieties include Shine Muscat, Kyoho, Campbell, Hongju and BK Seedless. This production base and the upgraded cold chain provide the physical platform for the 100-tonne plan, but compliance with destination-specific quarantine rules will determine how much fruit can move into the highest-priority markets.
