Jeju citrus to enter Uzbekistan through Korzinka supermarkets in November

First citrus shipment scheduled for November

Jeju citrus is set to enter Uzbekistan for the first time, opening a new overseas route for producers on the South Korean island. Jeju City Agricultural Cooperative, Uzbek supermarket operator Korzinka and South Korean Central Asia export specialist Sungshin L&P signed a three-party memorandum of understanding in Tashkent on August 18, according to Yonhap News Agency and Jeju Domin Ilbo.

The partners agreed to dispatch the initial citrus shipment in November. The precise volume and the schedule for promotional events in Uzbekistan remain under discussion, Yonhap reported. Jeju City Agricultural Cooperative Chairman Ko Bong-joo said the quarantine agreement covering Jeju citrus had been concluded, removing a key condition for access to the market.

Korzinka provides an established retail channel

Korzinka, described by both publications as Uzbekistan’s largest supermarket chain, will provide the local distribution platform. According to Jeju Domin Ilbo, the company opened its first supermarket in 1996 and now operates more than 250 stores across 12 regions of Uzbekistan. Its assortment includes fresh agricultural products, processed food and household goods.

The retailer selects suppliers that meet its freshness and quality requirements and applies quality controls to incoming goods, Jeju Domin Ilbo reported. For Jeju exporters, access to an established supermarket network offers a direct route to consumers, although commercial performance will still depend on pricing, product condition after transport and local demand.

Partners target distribution and supply-chain development

The memorandum covers more than the first citrus consignment. The three organizations will cooperate on expanding Uzbek imports and local distribution of Jeju agricultural products, identifying products suited to the market, building a stable supply chain, sharing export and distribution information, and organizing local promotion and market-development activities.

The initial effort will focus on Tashkent. Jeju City Agricultural Cooperative plans to use consumer preferences and market demand to identify additional export products. Sungshin L&P will contribute its specialization in Central Asian exports, while Korzinka’s stores provide the local route to market. Representatives of the Korea Citrus Export Association also attended the signing.

Uzbekistan positioned as a Central Asian entry point

The cooperative and Jeju farmers view the agreement as a foothold for broader expansion in Central Asia. The immediate project is limited to Jeju citrus in Uzbekistan, and neither publication disclosed shipment value, volume, retail price or a timetable for entry into other countries. Those missing commercial details will determine whether the November dispatch develops into a recurring trade flow.

Jeju City Agricultural Cooperative said it intends to raise awareness of Jeju produce among Uzbek consumers, diversify export destinations and support more stable sales channels and higher income for local farms. Ko said the partners would work to improve the competitiveness of Jeju agricultural products in Uzbekistan and other Central Asian markets. The first shipment will therefore serve both as a commercial delivery and as a test of demand, logistics and retail execution for future products.