South Korea: Fresh Deciduous Fruit Annual

In marketing year (MY) 2026/27, Post forecasts Korea's fresh pear production at 191,000 metric tons (MT), down 3.3 percent from MY 2025/26 harvest (197,491 MT). Summer heat and drought caused sunburn, while late, heavy rains caused fruit cracking and fruit drop, and pear planted area continued its long-term, incremental decline. Tighter supply and an early Chuseok holiday pushed early-season prices above last year's levels. Post forecasts that consumption will fall 2.8 percent to 173,000 MT in MY 2026/27 due to lower production, high per-fruit prices, a perception of inconvenience from younger consumers, and holiday-centered demand. Post forecasts that exports will fall 7.8 percent to 18,000 MT due to weaker demand in Taiwan and Vietnam, rising ocean freight costs, and competition from lower-priced Chinese pears.