K-food, consumer goods firms sign $4.6M export deals at Tokyo fair

Korean food and consumer goods companies signed export MOUs worth $4.6 million at a trade fair in Tokyo, with total export consultations with local buyers reaching $64 million.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (aT) announced Thursday that they held the 2026 Tokyo K-Food Fair+ at Annex Tower in Tokyo from Monday through Tuesday.

The event expanded the scope of the existing K-Food Fair to include food-related industries, marking the first collaboration among the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and aT, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups and the Korea SMEs and Startups Market, and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and KOTRA.

Participants included agricultural food exporters, companies with products designated as key Korean export items, foodtech firms such as makers of ramyun cooking appliances, and consumer goods companies offering cosmetics made from plant-based ingredients.

On Monday, 166 local Japanese consumers evaluated Korean products on taste, price, design and purchase intent. The results fed directly into the business-to-business export consultation sessions held the following day, and final analysis reports will be provided to participating companies to help them refine their products for the Japanese market.

The export consultation sessions on Tuesday drew 78 South Korean exporters, who held one-on-one meetings with buyers from across Japan — not only Tokyo and the greater metropolitan area but also Kyoto, Hiroshima and Fukuoka prefectures.

The consultations produced 15 MOUs totaling $4.6 million, centered on snacks, sauces and tteokbokki. Total export consultation value across all sessions reached $64 million.

At a new-product showcase attended by 30 Korean food importers based in Japan, companies presented 161 new items. The event also helped participating firms explore new distribution channels with retailers and vendors.

A dedicated booth featured 36 varieties of Korean traditional liquor for display and tasting, while a K-Fresh Zone introduced domestically grown fresh produce, including grapes.

Jeon Gi-chan, aT's director of food exports, said the fair "became an opportunity to significantly expand our export reach into Japan through consumer feedback surveys, integrated food and consumer goods consultations with partner agencies, and promotions of fresh produce." He added that aT would provide ongoing follow-up consulting to help convert the consultation results into actual export contracts.