New export market to help divert volume from oversupplied domestic market
Korea’s Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (APQA) has announced Korean Shine Muscat grapes have gained access to Australia.
Korea has been exporting two table grape varieties, Campbell Early and Kyoho, to Australia since 2014 under an existing protocol. Shine Muscat grapes have now been added to the existing protocol.
APQA has been negotiating with Australian quarantine authorities regarding Shine Muscat exports since 2024 and reached an agreement with Australia in April 2025.
Now Shine Muscat can also be exported to Australia if it meets the country’s strict biosecurity import requirements including export complex registration, bagging, and low-temperature disinfection.
Korea’s main export markets for Shine Muscat grapes are Taiwan and the US and the addition of Australia meets exporters’ requests to expand overseas sales channels. However, Korean exporters will be starting from a low base, with annual average grape exports to Australia sitting at 16 tonnes over the past five years.
“We expect this measure to expand overseas export channels for Shine Muscat and serve as an opportunity to enhance the competitiveness of domestic grape farms,” said APQA director Kim Jeong-hee.
“We will continue to listen to the voices of farmers and the industry and continue to improve export quarantine requirements.”
