Ginseng Exports Down 33% in First Half... aT Responds to Non-Tariff Barriers, Explores New Markets

Ginseng Exports Down 33% in First Half... aT Responds to Non-Tariff Barriers, Explores New Markets

Exports decline for 3rd consecutive year due to shrinking consumption and strengthened regulations in China and Vietnam

The Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (aT) announced on the 9th that it will strengthen export support to recover ginseng exports, including responding to country-specific non-tariff barriers, expanding overseas promotion, and diversifying sales channels.

The day before, aT, together with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, held an 'Industry Meeting for Expanding Ginseng Exports in 2026' at the aT Sejong Chungbuk Regional Headquarters in Cheongju, Chungcheongbuk-do, to discuss the causes of recent export sluggishness and countermeasures.

According to aT, as of the first week of last month, ginseng export value was 61.7 million dollars, a 33.2% decrease compared to the same period last year.

Ginseng exports have been on a continuous decline for three consecutive years since recording an all-time high of 269.7 million dollars in 2022.

Industry representatives who attended the meeting cited weakened price competitiveness due to rising domestic production costs and a slowdown in consumption of high-priced products in the global health functional food market, especially in China, as reasons for the export slump.

They also mentioned difficulties in responding to regulations as major challenges, such as non-tariff barriers due to China's push to revise the 'Goryeo Red Ginseng Imported Medicinal Material Standard' and Vietnam's revised Food Safety Act.

The industry requested support to strengthen overseas promotion of Korean ginseng and to diversify the export structure, which is concentrated on specific countries and items.

aT decided to strengthen support for ginseng exports in the second half, reflecting the opinions gathered the day before.

It plans to strengthen the promotion and sales of ginseng products through overseas exhibitions and K-Food Fairs, and to discover emerging markets such as Europe and the Middle East, as well as support local health functional food registration.

Jeon Ki-chan, aT's director of export food, said, "Ginseng exports are at a critical turning point due to changes in the global health functional food market and the strengthening of protectionist trade in various countries."