Alliaceous vegetables market in South Korea

Earlier Report Observations

The South Korean alliaceous vegetables market displayed considerable volatility from 2018 to 2023. It began the period at 2.56 million tons in 2018 and held nearly steady in 2019. A severe contraction followed in 2020, pulling the market volume down to 2.13 million tons.

This downturn was sharply reversed in 2021, with the market rebounding to 2.58 million tons, essentially recovering its pre-drop level. However, growth was not sustained, and another significant decline occurred in 2022, reducing the market to 2.17 million tons. A modest recovery to 2.23 million tons was recorded in 2023.

Domestic production trends largely drove these shifts, falling from a high of 2.6 million tons in 2019 to approximately 2.1 million tons in 2020 and again in 2022-2023. Concurrently, import volumes remained low through 2021 but grew substantially in the latter part of the period, reaching 136 thousand tons in 2023.

Production alliaceous vegetables in South Korea

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, South Korea maintained the 6th position globally in terms of production volume for alliaceous vegetables.

Top producers of alliaceous vegetables, 2017-2020

World map of production of alliaceous vegetables, 2017-2020

Following two years of growth, South Korea's production of alliaceous vegetables experienced a decline. In 2019, production reached its peak at 2 596 K t, but by 2020, it had dropped to 2 100 K t, marking a significant reduction of 19.1% compared to the previous year. The largest increase occurred in 2018, with a rise of 19.7%.

Annual dynamics of production in South Korea in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Exports alliaceous vegetables from South Korea

Exports in kind, K t

The export market for alliaceous vegetables showed considerable volatility during this period. In 2017, exports hit their lowest point, while 2019 saw a peak with 52.3 K t, representing an 83-fold increase from 2017. By 2020, exports from South Korea fell sharply to 8.7 K t, an 83.4% decrease compared to 2019. The largest year-on-year increase was recorded in 2019, at 1,400.1%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from South Korea in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Between 2017 and 2020, the core destinations for South Korea's alliaceous vegetable exports in volume terms were Asia, not elsewhere specified, which accounted for 68.2% of exports, Vietnam with 10.3%, and the United States at 6.4%. Together, these three markets represented 84.9% of total export flows.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from South Korea in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, K $ US

Market performance in value terms exhibited noticeable fluctuations over the period. Exports reached their lowest point in 2017 and peaked in 2019 at 20 672 K US dollars, showing a 34-fold amplitude between these years. In 2020, exports declined to 12 795 K US dollars, a sharp fall of 38.1% compared to 2019. The largest increase was observed in 2019, with a rise of 1,527.4%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from South Korea in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

From 2017 to 2020, Asia, not elsewhere specified, and the United States were the dominant buyers of alliaceous vegetables from South Korea in value terms, together accounting for 83.4% of total exports. Other partners played a less significant role in the export structure.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from South Korea in value, 2017-2020

Imports alliaceous vegetables to South Korea

Imports in kind, K t

After two consecutive years of decline, South Korea's import volume of alliaceous vegetables increased in 2020. Imports reached 32.5 K t in 2019, the lowest point in the period, but rose to a total of {value_last_year} K t in 2020, reflecting a year-on-year improvement of 21.5%. Overall, from 2017 to 2020, imports decreased by 75.6%, which translates to an annualized rate of 37.5%. The largest decline occurred in 2018, at 55.4%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to South Korea in kind, 2017-2020, K t

During 2017–2020, imports of alliaceous vegetables into South Korea were almost exclusively sourced from China, which accounted for 95.0% of total import volume.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to South Korea in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, K $ US

Following a two-year downturn, South Korea's import value for alliaceous vegetables saw an uptick in 2020. Imports hit their minimum in 2019 at 14 296 K US dollars, but increased to 18 263 K US dollars in 2020, up by 27.7% compared to the previous year. Over the entire period from 2017 to 2020, imports decreased by 67.8%, equivalent to an annualized rate of 31.5%. The most significant decline was recorded in 2018, at 51.3%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to South Korea in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

In the years 2017 to 2020, the import pattern in value terms highlighted a strong reliance on China, which absorbed 90.9% of total import flows.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to South Korea in value, 2017-2020