Philippine fruit products such as banana chips, dried mangoes, and calamansi concentrate are a big hit in the South Korean market as Philippine exporters received significant inquiries and booked sales from Korean firms.

The Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) reported this following the recently concluded International Food and Industry Exhibition (IFIES) in Seoul.

CITEM reported that Philippines’ second participation to Seoul Food 2010 garnered booked sales amounting to $2.52 million and US$13.44 million in estimated negotiated sales during the 4-day event.

“Philippine food products have continued to enjoy robust growth because aside from our offering of the best selection of the country’s prime food exports, we have lived up to the increasingly sophisticated taste of the global consumers and continuously evolve to satisfy the discerning buyers’ demand for safe and high-quality food,” said Trade and Industry Secretary Jesli A. Lapus.

South Korea, as one of the most rapidly expanding markets in Asia, offers opportunities for Philippine exporters since it imports 70% of its food supplies.

“This is the second time we joined the Seoul Food Exhibit and I can say that Koreans like the food products that our local companies offer. We have an exclusive importer for our products in Korea and they have received more inquiries about our products during and after the show,” said Gerry Marañon, Vice President of Sagrex Foods Inc.

Sagrex Foods Inc., was one of the 10 companies who joined the Philippine delegation in South Korea.

“This food fair is an opportunity to increase the awareness of the Korean public about the existence of the new products that we develop which is the Sagrex banana sausage, which will hopefully be in demand here in Korea,” Maranon said.

Established merely three years ago, Sagrex, an agri-based company that processed and export high-quality food products made from fresh Philippine native (saba) bananas. (BCM)