Pukyung Horticultural Cooperative, First Export of Paprika to Vietnam

Hold a Commemorative Launch Ceremony

On the 20th, Bukyeong Horticultural Agricultural Cooperative held a shipment ceremony at the Bukyeong Horticultural Agricultural Cooperative Economic Business Center to commemorate the first export of paprika to Vietnam.

The export volume on this day was 5 kg, 240 boxes, worth approximately 7 million KRW. The paprika was initially exported by air, and in the future, sea export is also planned to reduce export logistics costs.

Paprika, the main export item of Gyeongnam, relies heavily on the Japanese market, with 99% of exports going to Japan. However, exports are currently declining due to sluggish consumption caused by the Japanese economic recession and the prolonged weakness of the yen, which has worsened the profitability of exporting farmers.

Bukyeong Horticultural Agricultural Cooperative held the first shipment ceremony for paprika exports to Vietnam on the 20th.
[Image provided by Gyeongnam Nonghyup]

Since it is very difficult to recover once an export market is lost, Bukyeong Horticultural Agricultural Cooperative has continuously improved quality and steadily developed paprika export markets outside Japan.

As a result, they completed the strict quarantine requirements including ▲ issuance of import permits from Vietnam ▲ pre-registration of greenhouses and sorting centers with the Quarantine Headquarters ▲ implementation of comprehensive pest and disease management during cultivation ▲ quarantine inspection of cultivation sites and export quarantine by plant quarantine officers, and received final approval last November, enabling exports this month.

Choi Seong-hwan, chairman of Bukyeong Horticultural Agricultural Cooperative, said, “South Korea depends on Japan for more than 99% of paprika export volume, but with the ongoing yen depreciation, the profitability of exporting farmers has deteriorated, making it necessary to develop new export markets.” He added, “Exporting farmers are facing very difficult situations due to rising heating and farming material costs, but we will strive to increase farmers’ income through continuous development of new markets.”

Kim Ju-yang, head of Gyeongnam Nonghyup, said, “It is meaningful that the paprika export market, which was concentrated in the existing Japanese market, has been diversified by developing a new market in Vietnam.”

He added, “The regional headquarters will continue to listen to and improve difficulties at export sites, strengthen cooperation with export-related organizations, establish support systems, and expand support for export production areas.”

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