Australia challenges the United States for Korea's largest flour import supplier.

Published Dec 31, 2025

Tridge summary

Core tip: According to foreign media on December 30, in recent years, Australia and the United States have fiercely competed for the South Korean wheat market, especially in the supply of flour. Although both countries are major global wheat producers, Australia has gradually expanded its market share in South Korea over the past decade, eroding the traditional advantage of the United States in the South Korean market.

Original content

The Korea Flour Milling Industry Association stated that in the first half of 2025, the seven major flour companies in South Korea imported 94% of their wheat from the United States and Australia, with Australia accounting for 51% (597,000 tons) and the United States for 43% (509,000 tons). Australia surpassed the United States in the first half of 2025 to become South Korea's largest single wheat supplier. South Korea has long relied on U.S. wheat, but since the 1990s, South Korea has been seeking to diversify its wheat import sources, and Australia has been working to open up new export markets. The Korea-Australia Free Trade Agreement, which came into effect in 2014, was a key factor in driving the growth of Australian wheat exports. This agreement reduced the import tariff on Australian wheat and completely eliminated it in 2018. Since then, Australian wheat has gradually occupied a larger share of the South Korean market. Moreover, Australian wheat varieties have been ...

Source: Foodmate