Market research

Apple market in South Korea

Release date: Mar 28, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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File format: docx, xlsx

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Earlier Report Observations

The South Korean apple market volume showed significant fluctuations between 2018 and 2023. After reaching 533 тыс. т in 2019, it dropped to 420 тыс. т in 2020 due to a reduction in orchard area caused by aging trees and ongoing climatic issues that affected harvesting. Recovery followed in 2021, with volume rising to 515 тыс. т, supported by sustained consumer preference for the Fuji variety, prized for its storage stability and sweetness.

Production shifts played a key role in subsequent movements. The market grew to 564 тыс. т in 2022 as apple cultivation area expanded rapidly in the Gangwon region, compensating for a declining share in the traditional Gyeongbuk area. However, in 2023, volume fell sharply to 394 тыс. т as Fuji orchard area decreased and late blooming introduced harvest volatility, despite a 31% increase in shipments of new varieties such as those from Myanmar.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
  2. 4.1.2. In value
    1. 4.1.2.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.2.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.2.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.2.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in South Korea
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in South Korea in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  2. 5.1.2. Annual dynamics of production in South Korea in value, 2018-2023, $ US
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  2. 5.2.2. Dynamics of production structure by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023
  3. 5.2.3. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  4. 5.2.4. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
  5. 5.2.5. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries in kind, 2018-2023
6. Exports
1. 6.1. Exports (Direct Data)
  1. 6.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from South Korea in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from South Korea by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from South Korea in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from South Korea by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/kg
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from South Korea, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from South Korea by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
2. 6.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from South Korea in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from South Korea by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from South Korea in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from South Korea by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/kg
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from South Korea, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from South Korea by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
7. Imports
1. 7.1. Imports (Direct Data)
  1. 7.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to South Korea in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to South Korea by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to South Korea in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to South Korea by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/kg
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to South Korea, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to South Korea by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
2. 7.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to South Korea in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to South Korea by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to South Korea in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to South Korea by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/kg
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to South Korea, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to South Korea by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, K $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, K $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2024
1. 9.1. Direct Data
  1. 9.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 9.2. Mirror Data
  1. 9.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production apple in South Korea

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

South Korea was among the world's leading apple producers from 2017 to 2020, ranking 30th globally by production volume during this period.

Top producers of apple, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of apple, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

In 2020, South Korea produced 422.1 thousand tons of apples, marking a significant 21.1% decrease compared to 2019. Over the entire 2017-2020 period, production fell by 22.6%, which translates to an annualized decline of 8.2%. The only notable increase occurred in 2019, when production rose by 12.6%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(12.8%)	12.6%	(21.1%)	(8.2%)

Source: SHEV.io

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

In 2020, the value of apple production in South Korea reached 1 227 million US dollars, representing a 4.7% year-on-year decline. From 2017 to 2020, the total value decreased by 8.8%, with a compound annual growth rate of -3.0%. The sharpest drop was recorded in 2018 at 6.8%, while 2019 saw a modest increase of 2.7%.

Annual dynamics of production in South Korea in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(6.8%)	2.7%	(4.7%)	(3.0%)

Source: SHEV.io

Exports apple from South Korea

Exports in kind, t

South Korea exported 1 737 tons of apples in 2020, a 34.3% decrease from the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, exports declined by 38.9%, averaging an annualized reduction of 15.1%. The only slight uptick was in 2019, with a marginal increase of 0.2%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(7.2%)	0.2%	(34.3%)	(15.1%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the primary destinations for South Korea's apple exports in volume terms were Asia, not elsewhere specified (48.0% of total exports), Vietnam (18.1%), and Singapore (11.5%). Together, these three markets accounted for 77.6% of all export flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

Apple exports from South Korea declined for the third consecutive year in 2020, reaching 5 049 thousand US dollars, a significant 20.7% drop compared to 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, export value fell by 28%, with an annualized decrease of 10.4%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(0.7%)	(8.6%)	(20.7%)	(10.4%)

Source: SHEV.io

During 2017-2020, the top buyers of South Korean apples by value were Asia, not elsewhere specified (44.7% of total export value), Vietnam (20.3%), and Hong Kong (11.8%). Collectively, these three regions represented 76.8% of all export earnings.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports apple to South Korea

Imports in kind, t

In 2020, South Korea imported 13 tons of apples, showing minimal change from the previous year.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	n/a	0.0%	-

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Asia, not elsewhere specified was the sole source of apple imports to South Korea in volume terms, accounting for 100.0% of total imports.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

In 2020, the value of apple imports to South Korea amounted to 33 thousand US dollars, a slight increase of 2.4% from the year before.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	n/a	2.4%	-

Source: SHEV.io

Throughout 2017-2020, Asia, not elsewhere specified remained the dominant and nearly exclusive source of apple imports to South Korea by value, holding a 100.0% share.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io