Business Information Regarding Coffee Product Export Plans to Other Countries
Business Information Regarding Coffee Product Export Plans to Other Countries
According to ICO data, coffee consumption in South Korea in 2022/2023 was less than 3 million 60kg bags, a 5.3% decrease from the 2021/2022 period. This decline was not due to a decrease in purchasing power, but rather a reduction in the population of South Korea. Compared to other countries globally, South Korea is considered a low coffee consumer. However, the coffee shop industry in South Korea, especially in Seoul and Busan, is quite prevalent, with a coffee shop located at least every 50 meters. According to data from the Food Trade Corporation Korea and the National Tax Service of Korea, there were 88,363 coffee shops in Korea in 2021, and nearly 99,000 in 2022. Around 70% of South Korea’s adult population are coffee drinkers, consuming 1 to 2 cups of coffee per day, showing that coffee is a favorite beverage in South Korea. Starbucks, Mega Coffee, and Paik’s Coffee are popular coffee franchises, but as of 2023, Ediya Coffee has the most cafes across South Korea. The coffee drinking trend in South Korea spans all social classes, from lower-income individuals who buy coffee from convenience stores to specialty coffee enthusiasts from local roasters. Coffee shops typically offer a variety of coffee beans from producing countries, enhance their roasting skills, and even create home coffee machines. Additionally, South Korea’s younger generation tends to experiment with new ways to enjoy coffee, such as nitro cold brew, unique coffee flavor blends, and dalgona coffee trends. The strong coffee culture in South Korea continuously drives the coffee industry to benefit from market innovation prospects. In 2023, based on ITC Comtrade data, South Korea’s coffee imports reached USD 1.2 billion, dominated by Brazil (USD 228 million), Colombia (USD 166 million), and the United States (USD 147 million). The majority of coffee imports are beans, roasted coffee, extracts or essences, and decaffeinated coffee. The total volume of coffee imports into South Korea in 2023 was 202,000 tons, with 161,000 tons being coffee beans. The HS codes and import values for coffee imported by South Korea in 2023 were as follows: HS 090111: Unroasted, non-decaffeinated coffee beans - USD 708.4 million HS 090121: Roasted coffee (except decaffeinated) - USD 333 million HS 210111: Coffee extracts, essences, and concentrates - USD 103.3 million HS 090112: Decaffeinated, unroasted coffee - USD 36.4 million HS 090122: Roasted decaffeinated coffee - USD 31.8 million HS 210112: Preparations based on extracts, essences, or concentrates - USD 20 million HS 090190: Coffee husks and skins - USD 1.4 million In 2023, South Korea’s total coffee imports from Indonesia amounted to USD 14 million, or 1.14% of total coffee imports to South Korea. Coffee imports from Indonesia were dominated by coffee beans, amounting to USD 13.6 million or 2% of South Korea’s total coffee imports (ITC Comtrade, 2024).
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