Market research

Aubergines market in South Korea

Release date: Mar 27, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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Earlier Report Observations

Between 2018 and 2020, the South Korean aubergine market experienced a gradual contraction in volume, declining from 4,980 tons to 4,743 tons. This period coincided with a structural shift in the fresh food retail landscape, where the offline channel's share began to erode as online grocery sales gained traction, spurred by growing single-person and dual-income households. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 accelerated this transition dramatically, causing a surge in online fresh food purchases as consumers sought safer shopping alternatives. Government initiatives to support the competitiveness of online fresh agricultural product trade also began during this time, helping to stabilize distribution channels amidst the pandemic disruption.

From 2021 onward, the aubergine market entered a phase of steady recovery, reaching 4,913 tons by 2023. This rebound was fueled by the intense competition and rapid maturation of the online fresh food ecosystem. Major e-commerce players and large retailers heavily invested in premium fresh food strategies and competed on delivery speed, launching and expanding dawn delivery, same-day delivery, and quick commerce services. The entry of new competitors like Naver into the dawn delivery market further intensified this competition. Enhanced cold chain logistics, digitalized delivery systems, and rising consumer trust in online fresh food quality supported market expansion, even as export volumes of aubergines shrank significantly, keeping more domestic production within the country.

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. 4.2. 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, 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, 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, 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 aubergines in South Korea

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of aubergines, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of aubergines, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

South Korea's eggplant production has declined for the third year in a row. In 2020, the country produced 4,871 tonnes of eggplants, representing a slight decrease of 2.0% compared to 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production fell by 5.7%, with an average annual decline of 2.0%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(2.3%)	(1.6%)	(2.0%)	(2.0%)

Source: SHEV.io

In value, 2017-2020, K $ US

South Korea's eggplant production value has increased for the second consecutive year. In 2020, the output was valued at 12,163 thousand US dollars, which is 7.4% higher than the previous year. The lowest value was recorded in 2018 at 10,374 thousand US dollars. The largest decline occurred in 2018, dropping by 15.0%, while the largest increase was in 2019, rising by 9.1%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(15.0%)	9.1%	7.4%	(0.1%)

Source: SHEV.io

Exports aubergines from South Korea

Exports in kind, t

South Korea's eggplant exports have grown for the third consecutive year. In 2020, exports reached 128.6 tonnes, marking a 4.0% increase from 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, exports surged by 287.2%, translating to an average annual growth rate of 57.0%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	107.1%	79.8%	4.0%	57.0%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Japan accounted for 83.7% of South Korea's total eggplant exports by volume, with the remaining share distributed among various other countries, each holding smaller individual portions.

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

South Korea's eggplant export value has risen for the third year in a row. In 2020, the export value totaled 321.1 thousand US dollars, showing a strong increase of 14.0% compared to 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, exports grew by 309.6%, with an average annual growth rate of 60.0%.

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	80.3%	99.3%	14.0%	60.0%

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, Japan dominated South Korea's eggplant exports in value terms, capturing 75.3% of the total, while other trading partners held relatively minor shares.

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 aubergines to South Korea

Imports in kind, t

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	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, China and the United States were the primary sources for South Korea's eggplant imports by volume, together making up 100.0% of the total.

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

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	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

During 2017–2020, the United States and China formed the core of South Korea's eggplant imports in value terms, jointly accounting for 100.0% of the total flows.

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