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Increased opportunities for US pork in South Korea

A growing demand for pork in South Korea is providing opportunity for the US pork industry.

Jihae Yang with the US Meat Export Federation says the country’s domestic pork production is steady, but it isn’t keeping up with demand.  “People like the protein-based meals,” she says.  “The home-meal replacement and processed meat and e-commerce are all a driving force for the Korean market.”

She says the increase in popularity of online shopping with Korean consumers also bodes well for US pork products.  “For the single household and the younger generation for the convenient food and home-meal replacement is where we are getting benefit from more sales of the US processed pork,” she says. 

Through April, US pork exports to South Korea are up 28 percent from last year in volume and up 37 percent in value.