"Crisp and Stress-Relieving: K-Fruit Exports Hit KRW 130 Billion, Which New Star Is Rising in Japan?"

First Half Exports Reach KRW 130 Billion
Strawberries Top the List... Grapes and Chamoe Also in High Demand

The popularity of K-food is now extending to fruit as well. In the first half of this year, exports of domestically produced fruits reached a record high of about KRW 130 billion.

Seongju Chamoe. Lotte Homeshopping.

According to the Korea Customs Service on July 18, fruit exports in the January–June period of this year totaled USD 95.72 million (approximately KRW 130 billion). This is the highest figure ever recorded for the first half of a year, up 19.7% compared to the same period last year. In 2025, the annual fruit exports reached USD 240.49 million, also setting a record at the time, and there is a high possibility that the record will be broken for a second consecutive year.

Strawberries are displayed at a store in Cheongnyangni Fruit and Vegetable Market, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang

By item, strawberries accounted for the largest export value at USD 60.49 million. Strawberry exports increased by 15.8% compared to the same period last year. The largest importer of Korean strawberries was Singapore with USD 19.21 million (31.8%), followed by Thailand with USD 16.56 million (27.4%).

The second most exported fruit was grapes, with an export value of USD 17.83 million. More than half of the grapes were shipped to Taiwan (USD 9.2 million, 51.6%). Pears followed as the third most exported fruit, accounting for USD 8.03 million. These three products together made up 90.2% of total fruit exports. Korean fruit was exported to 61 countries in total. Singapore was the largest export destination, accounting for USD 22.88 million (23.9%), followed by Thailand with USD 17.71 million (18.5%) and Taiwan with USD 11.6 million (12.1%). By production region, Gyeongnam accounted for 57.4% of total exports, ranking first for 18 consecutive years in the first half. Gyeongbuk (22.7%) and Chungnam (6.4%) followed, and these three regions accounted for 86.4% of total exports.

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Chamoe Emerges as a Trending Fruit in Japan

Meanwhile, one of the most notable K-fruits recently is chamoe. Chamoe, referred to as “Korea melon,” is particularly gaining popularity in Japan. It is praised for being relatively more affordable than regular melons, as well as for its crisp texture and high sugar content.

According to statistics from the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (aT), exports of Korean chamoe to Japan rose sharply from USD 310,800 (about KRW 470 million, 61.3 tons) in 2022 to USD 1,055,000 (about KRW 1.594 billion, 271.5 tons) last year, marking significant growth over the past three years. In particular, in 2023 Korean chamoe was registered with Japan's Consumer Affairs Agency as a food with functional labeling, for containing GABA, giving it the image of a "premium fresh produce with stress-reducing effects." Chamoe exports continue to perform well, with the export value increasing by USD 1.64 million in the first half of the year.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.