Annual imports of frozen fruit on track to reach record levels for second consecutive year
High fresh fruit prices are driving Korean consumers to seek out frozen alternatives, according to a report from Korean economic publication, Maeil Business Newpaper (MK).
Agri-Food Export Information (KATI) data reported Korea’s total imported volume of frozen fruit reached 73,299 tonnes in the first 11 months of this year, a 4 per cent increase on the same period last year. In 2024, annual imports reached an all-time high of 79,436 tonnes and if the current trend continues, Korea is expected to break this record again this year.
Imported frozen fruit has been on the rise since 2020. According to MK, its comparative price to fresh fruit is the biggest factor.
Korea’s fresh fruit consumer price index has steadily risen over the past five years. The gain, which was 3.8 per cent in 2020, rose to 11.3 per cent in 2021, 6.2 per cent in 2022 and 9.6 per cent in 2023, before soaring to 16.9 per cent last year.
According to the National Data Agency, the fresh fruit index averaged 152.21 (2020=100) through the third quarter of this year, higher than the fresh food index (130.8) or the fresh vegetable index (1204.4).
An increase in single-person households and consumer trends favouring convenience are also said to be boosting the rising preference for frozen fruit.
A worker in his 30s who lives alone told MK, “If I buy a lot of fruits, I quickly stepped back and found a small packaging product, but I was surprised to see 12,000 won for three apples,” adding, “Most of the small packaging products are premium-oriented, so it’s more burdensome”.
Korean distribution and food service company, CJ Freshway, sells various frozen fruit products such as blueberries and mangoes through its own brand (PB) It’s Well. This year, the company told MK, it expanded its offering to include frozen mangoes. According to the company, the distribution of frozen fruit PB products such as frozen blueberries and mangoes has more than doubled annually over the past three years.
