Korean grape growers and exporter put payment and quality terms in writing
Grape producers and an exporter signed a standard trading contract setting out payment and quality terms in Sangju, North Gyeongsang Province, on October 15. The government plans to concentrate quarantine and cold-chain support during the October–December export season.
Standard contract signed
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and North Gyeongsang Province held a grape-export event at Doyeong Farm in Sangju on the afternoon of October 15. Sangju Horticultural Cooperative, representing growers, and exporter Gyeongbuk Corporation signed a standard contract specifying payment settlement and quality requirements.
The ministry said the contract is meant to reduce the uncertainty of verbal agreements. It plans to extend the contract to major grape-growing regions, and agencies will review problems at export sites weekly during the peak shipping period.
Quarantine and logistics support
The export plan covers supply, production, cold-chain logistics and overseas sales. It calls for securing 12,000 tonnes in advance through an integrated export organization and increasing designated production areas for US-bound quarantine checks from 31 to 41.
The plan allocates 8.09 billion won for production infrastructure and 6.06 billion won for cold-chain and logistics costs. Quarantine services will also run on weekends and public holidays during the October–December peak.
US$112.5 million target
The ministry’s strategy document sets a 2026 grape-export target of US$112.5 million. Provisional exports through September totalled US$56.3 million, about half the annual goal. The “US$100 million era” promoted at the event is a target for this year, not a result already achieved.
The ministry expects higher exports to ease concentrated domestic supply and downward pressure on prices. The effect on prices paid to farmers is not yet known. The event also included demonstrations of checks on Shine Muscat grapes for sweetness and weight.
Sources & context
2026-10-15T09:06:03.274Z
Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs · Grape export announcement ↗Agriculture ministry · Export strategy document ↗Participants hold Shine Muscat grapes at the export event at Doyeong Farm in Sangju, North Gyeongsang Province, on October 15. Photo: Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, KOGL Type 1. Proportionally resized.